self

1 of 5

noun

ˈself 

 Southern also  ˈsef

plural selves ˈselvz 

 Southern also  ˈsevz

1

a(1)

: an individual's typical character or behavior

her true self was revealed

(2)

: an individual's temporary behavior or character

his better self

b

: a person in prime condition

feel like my old self today

2

: the union of elements (such as body, emotions, thoughts, and sensations) that constitute the individuality and identity of a person

3

: personal interest or advantage

4

a

: the entire person of an individual

b

: the realization or embodiment of an abstraction

5

: material that is part of an individual organism

ability of the immune system to distinguish self from nonself

self

2 of 5

pronoun

: myself, himself, herself

a check payable to self

self

3 of 5

adjective

1

a

: having a single character or quality throughout

specifically : having one color only

a self flower

b

: of the same kind (as in color, material, or pattern) as something with which it is used

self trimming

2

obsolete : identical, same

3

obsolete : belonging to oneself : own

self

4 of 5

verb

selfed; selfing; selfs

transitive verb

1

: inbreed

2

: to pollinate with pollen from the same flower or plant

intransitive verb

: to undergo self-pollination

self-

5 of 5

combining form

1

a

: oneself or itself

self-supporting

b

: of oneself or itself

self-abasement

c

: by oneself or itself

self-propelled

self-acting

2

a

: to, with, for, or toward oneself or itself

self-consistent

self-addressed

self-love

b

: of or in oneself or itself inherently

self-evident

c

: from or by means of oneself or itself

self-fertile

Synonyms

Noun

• character
• clay
• colors
• complexion
• constitution
• genius
• nature
• personality
• tone

Adjective

• monochromatic
• monochrome
• monochromic
• self-colored
• solid

Examples of self in a Sentence

Noun

She showed her better self at the party.

Her public self is very different from her private self.

Philosophers have written about the conception of the self.

Adjective

a self-red rose of a shade that hasn't been seen before

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

As of filling out this form: My self and my wife and my parents. —Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025

That might be her 20-something self’s stance on her agency in the moment, but the woman looking back in her late 40s surveys the landscape with clear-eyed ownership. —Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2025

Adjective

The women's brains showed a clear divide between the areas of the brain activated by self and non-self MHCs. —Breanna Draxler, Discover Magazine, 24 Jan. 2013

An inspector’s notes also stated there were cardboard containers on the floor, a non-self closing restroom door, no training documentation for the staff. —Pam McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Pronoun

Middle English (intensive pronoun), from Old English; akin to Old High German selb, intensive pronoun, and probably to Latin suus one's own — more at suicide

Combining form

Middle English, from Old English, from self

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Pronoun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

1905, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for self

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

Kids Definition

self

1 of 3 pronoun

ˈself 

 Southern also  ˈsef

: myself sense 1, himself, herself

check that can be paid to self

a room for self, son, and daughter

self

2 of 3 noun

ˈself

plural selves

ˈselvz,

 Southern also  ˈsevz

1

: a person thought of as an individual apart from everyone else

2

: a particular side of a person's disposition

your better self

3

: personal interest

without thought of self

self-

3 of 3 combining form

1

a

: oneself or itself

self-pitying

b

: of oneself or itself

self-destructive

self-sacrifice

c

: by oneself or itself

self-made

self-propelled

2

a

: to, with, for, or toward oneself or itself

self-addressed

b

: of or in oneself or itself

self-evident

c

: from or by means of oneself or itself

self-fertile

Medical Definition

self

noun

ˈself 

plural selves ˈselvz 

1

: the union of elements (as body, emotions, thoughts, and sensations) that constitute the individuality and identity of a person

2

: material that is part of an individual organism

ability of the immune system to distinguish self from nonself