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

Next came the two interviewers of the bunch, best-selling self-help phenom Mel Robbins and actor and comedian Dax Shepard, who has had about 1,000 conversations with A-listers and scholars since 2018 on his show Armchair Expert. —Julian Sancton, HollywoodReporter, 17 Nov. 2025

For years, self-help books and articles have pegged these traits, among others, as the qualities to look for in workplace leaders. —Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 17 Nov. 2025

In a September interview with The New York Times, bestselling author, podcaster and research professor at the University of Houston Brené Brown was asked about the world of online self-help gurus and her place in it. —Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 13 Nov. 2025

Mack, who played Chloe Sullivan on the CW hit series, spent over a decade as a key member of the cult-like NXIVM organization, a master-slave group masqueraded as a self-help organization whose female followers were branded. —Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 11 Nov. 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.