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

Snow shared that many of her go-to books — primarily nonfiction titles, autobiographies and self-help books — have propelled her through hard moments in her life, including her divorce and her father's Alzheimer's diagnosis. —Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025

Closing night film, psychological thriller Guru, stars Pierre Niney as a charismatic and manipulative self-help guru, with the cast also featuring Marion Barbeau, Anthony Bajon and Holt McCallany. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2025

Instead, people read it like a self-help book. —Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025

The origins of that industry really are self-help cults from the '70s that use these really kind of barbaric behavioral therapy modification programs. —Senior Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 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.