self-love

noun

ˌself-ˈləv 

: love of self: such as

a

: an appreciation of one's own worth or virtue

Self-love begins when we observe our actions and words with compassion as if we were our own best friend.

—Sara M Bosworth

Just as you'd think, it's love—particular, self-love—that makes the world go around.

—Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Often we are reluctant to promote self-love mostly because we confuse it with selfishness. Since we are humans, we ought to have a healthy love for ourselves; it is from this fount that love flows out to others.

—Mason Olds

b

: proper regard for and attention to one's own happiness or well-being

Nurturing your body seems simple, but for me it feels like an extreme act of self-love.

—Danielle d'Entremont

Lisa Concepcion, a certified professional love life coach and founder of LoveQuest Coaching, says that journaling is an excellent way to practice self-love.

—SheKnows

c

: inflated love of or pride in oneself : narcissism, conceit

… individuals ruled by self-love and selfishness …

—John Saillant

"Then from myself pray understand that I will say nothing to flatter your self-love."

—Anthony Trollope

… there was the self-love of those conceited blockheads who … were convinced that they themselves were superior to anything the age could produce.

—John Clive

self-loving

ˌself-ˈlə-viŋ 

adjective

Synonyms

• amour propre
• bighead
• complacence
• complacency
• conceit
• conceitedness
• ego
• egotism
• pomposity
• pompousness
• pride
• pridefulness
• self-admiration
• self-assumption
• self-conceit
• self-congratulation
• self-esteem
• self-glory
• self-importance
• self-opinion
• self-satisfaction
• smugness
• swelled head
• swellheadedness
• vaingloriousness
• vainglory
• vainness
• vanity

Examples of self-love in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The mom of four, who recently welcomed son Rocky Thirteen with her husband, drummer Travis Barker, posted some self-love reflections from a tropical getaway with her sisters. —Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 8 Apr. 2024

Williams has also shared her self-love journey with fans. —Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024

In the midst of this ongoing fight, where does your own sense of pride and self-love come from as a Black Brazilian woman? Génot: Therapy. —Brande Victorian, Essence, 21 Mar. 2024

The trek — which began in August in Buenos Aires and stopped in Costa Rica, Guatemala and Bolivia, among other countries — is in support of her ultra-personal album, ALMA, that thrives on emotions, spirituality, reason and an awakening to self-love. —Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 18 Mar. 2024

Love would be abundant in our friendships and in the world with the help of a little more self-love, understanding and grace. —Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 13 Mar. 2024

Selena Gomez is talking about her self-love journey over the past few years! —Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024

Practice self-care and self-love Menopause is a natural phase of life that may be associated with bothersome symptoms including weight gain — but don’t let that extinguish your joy. —Andrea Kane, CNN, 10 Mar. 2024

The Importance of Self-Love For me, self-love during my period means using unequivocal language. —Caroline Colvin, Health, 9 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1539, in the meaning defined above