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

While writing down lists may not work for everyone, and journaling may seem like yet another task to complete, Sandbech believes your mind deserves the same opportunity for self-care as any other part of your body. —Asif Burhan, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025

Also at issue was work-life balance, with 74% indicating that the demands of business left them little room for self-care. —Samantha Dewalt, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025

That might look like trying to be fully present with your kids during mealtimes, or taking a walk by yourself to clear your head as a form of self-care. —Jana Pollack, Parents, 11 Sep. 2025

What other essentials earned a spot in the star’s self-care regimen? —Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 11 Sep. 2025

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