do-it-yourself

noun

do-it-your·​self ˌdü-i-chər-ˈself 

ˌdü-it-yər-

often attributive

: the activity of doing or making something (as in woodworking or home repair) without professional training or assistance

broadly : an activity in which one does something oneself or on one's own initiative

do-it-yourselfer

ˌdü-i-chər-ˈsel-fər 

ˌdü-it-yər-

noun

Examples of do-it-yourself in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Over the years the parade has grown from watching the show in one’s carriage to a fantastical showing of DIY (do-it-yourself) towering bonnets, hats, baskets and delightful spring fashion — wearers introducing an enchanting array of spring fashion colors to shed the feeling of the long winter days. —Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 18 Apr. 2025

For example, a home improvement brand could create weekend do-it-yourself project tutorials featuring their tools. —Nikita Korchevskyi, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025

So what makes some doctors back a do-it-yourself sleep hack without substantial evidence? —Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025

But for now, the Supreme Court kept intact efforts by the Biden-era Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to combat ghost guns, which are sold as do-it-yourself kits and difficult to trace, in response to an exploding number seized in crimes. —Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 26 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for do-it-yourself

• bookshelf
• herself
• himself
• hisself
• itself
• meself
• myself
• nonself
• oneself
• thyself
• yourself
• elf

Kids Definition

do-it-yourself

adjective

do-it-your·​self

ˌdü-ə-chər-ˈself

: of, relating to, or designed for a person without professional training or help to do or make

do-it-yourselfer

-ˈsel-fər

noun