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

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

Yet everyone around me seemed to be chasing release by optimizing their prison jobs, their studies, their participation in self-help groups. —Joe Garcia, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2025

It’s even made its way into pop psychology self-help spaces. —Athena Aktipis, The Conversation, 10 Oct. 2025

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

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.