self-care

noun

ˌself-ˈker 

: care for oneself

stroke victims capable of daily self-care

the necessity of busy working parents to take time for self-care

specifically : health care provided by oneself often without the consultation of a medical professional

Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are a common route for self-care, and consumers are eagerly using them …

—Alison Stein Wellner

—sometimes used before another noun

At-home screening is one side of the burgeoning self-care movement …

—Stephen Rae

Examples of self-care in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Define Work Hours And Prioritize Self-Care In my experience, the best way to achieve this balance is to set clear boundaries and prioritize self-care. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025

Not working for the sake of working is probably part of my self-care regimen. —Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 15 June 2025

At its heart, this trend bridges self-care and art-making. —Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 June 2025

Try and clear one day a week to make time for self-care. —Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 13 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-care

• abwehr
• affair
• affaire
• airfare
• altair
• armchair
• aware
• beware
• bugbear
• carfare
• childcare
• compare

Medical Definition

self-care

noun

-ˈke(ə)r 

: care for oneself : self-treatment