self-harm

noun

ˌself-ˈhärm 

: the act of purposely hurting oneself (as by cutting or burning the skin) as an emotional coping mechanism

Although most cutters are young women who have been emotionally, sexually, or physically abused as children, [Marilee] Strong's research shows that this specific type of self-harm also appears in other groups.

—Maria Simson et al.

called also self-injury, self-mutilation

self-harm intransitive verb

self-harmed; self-harming; self-harms

teenagers who self-harm

Examples of self-harm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The company said the message will inform parents that teens repeatedly searched for suicide or self-harm content and offer resources on how to approach sensitive conversations around mental health. —Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026

Instagram already blocks users from searching for self-harm and suicide content and directs users to local helplines and resources. —Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026

Instagram’s new update will alert parents if their child searches for terms associated with suicide or self-harm. —Sarah Scott, Parents, 26 Feb. 2026

Instagram already blocks content related to suicide or self-harm from reaching teens’ accounts. —Amanda Chen, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-harm

• alarm
• disarm
• forearm
• gendarme
• nonfarm
• rearm
• arm
• charm
• farm
• harm
• firearm
• underarm

Kids Definition

self-harm

noun

ˌself-ˈhärm 

: the act of purposely hurting oneself (as by cutting or burning the skin) as an emotional coping mechanism