self-help

noun

ˈself-ˈhelp 

 Southern also  ˈhep

: the action or process of bettering oneself or overcoming one's problems without the aid of others

especially : the coping with one's personal or emotional problems without professional help

self-help adjective

Examples of self-help in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That often shows up in piles of cookbooks, self-help manuals, and fitness gear. —Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Oct. 2025

The post has evolved into All the Cool Girls Get Fired, a rollicking, joyful self-help book and how-to guide, that aims to empower and inform women amidst the turbulent job market of the 2020s. —Hadley Meares, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025

More than a self-help manual, Soul Sight is an invitation to change one’s vision. —Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025

Brown has also hosted two award-winning podcasts, Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead, which consistently rank among the most popular self-help and leadership shows. —Sydney Lake, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-help

• help
• kelp
• skelp
• whelp
• yelp

Kids Definition

self-help

noun

ˈself-ˈhelp

: the act of bettering oneself or overcoming one's problems without aid of others

Legal Definition

self-help

noun

ˈself-ˈhelp

: the act of redressing or preventing a wrong by one's own actions rather than through legal proceedings

Note: The Uniform Commercial Code permits creditors to repossess collateral by self-help if it can be done without a breach of the peace.