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

Holistic wellness has become an increasingly popular approach to self-care, highlighting a demand for wellness solutions that balance the body as a whole rather than its various parts. — Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026

For another way to soothe the nervous system, the resort’s Fall Equinox Celebration will center around sound healing and self-care. — Kim Foley MacKinnon, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Range of motion also plays a role in activities of daily living (ADLs), which include essential self-care tasks such as bathing, dressing, toileting, eating, and transferring from one place to another. — Rikkilynn Shields Hannigan, HEALTH, 17 Aug. 2026

During her busy summer, Ellis Ross sums up what her self-care routine was comprised of. — Jackie Fields, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 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