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

That portability may push acupressure further into a self-care market already crowded with meditation apps and recovery devices. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026

JoyBright by Ulta 12 Days of Self-Care An advent calendar dedicated to self-care? — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 3 Nov. 2026

Ask about when to seek medical care Perhaps the most important part of any plan is recognizing when self-care is no longer appropriate. — Andrés Henao, The Conversation, 27 Oct. 2026

As the industry gathered to celebrate the people powering Latin music, guests left with something to power their own self-care routines. — Walaa Elsiddig, Billboard, 26 Oct. 2026

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