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

Joshua Rothman looks at two books that explore how letting go might be the way to go, one by a psychoanalyst and the other by a journalist turned self-help author. —Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2024

His book is self-help for people who generally find the genre mockable, or at least unhelpful. —Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 4 Oct. 2024

What was once limited to self-help books and exclusive retreats is now front and center in mass media, with influencers, celebrities, and thought leaders championing holistic living. —Ashlee Marie Preston, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024

Customer Support Options Norton Password Manager subscribers can only get help via Norton's self-help support website. —PCMAG, 27 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined above

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.