self-cultivation

noun

self-cul·​ti·​va·​tion ˌself-ˌkəl-tə-ˈvā-shən 

: the development of one's mind or capacities through one's own efforts : self-culture

The emphasis here is on education for self-cultivation rather than for jobs and on retirement and leisure rather than work.

—O. B. Hardison, Jr.

Examples of self-cultivation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Central to this humanism is a belief in the moral responsibility of self-cultivation. — Dónal Gill, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026

To be seen as a poseur or a phony—a person who affects rather than is—violates some nebulous code of acceptable self-cultivation. — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2025

The snake can also represent the potential for self-cultivation and is often seen as mysterious and intelligent. — Nadia Lopez, Axios, 28 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1766, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-cultivation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration