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

Her greatest passions include discussing haircuts, self-care, mental health, and cosmetics that have become cultural phenomena. — Ana Morales, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2026

Hundreds of high school athletes from around Chicago strayed away from a classic media day to put self-care and saving lives in the spotlight. — Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 7 Sep. 2026

The notes of bergamot, pink mint, cedar, and musk turn this thinning hair treatment into a luxury form of self-care. — Madison San Miguel, Allure, 5 Sep. 2026

The move drags romance into spaces once reserved for a workout or a self-care Sunday. — Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 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