self-indulgence

1 of 2

noun

self-in·​dul·​gence ˌself-in-ˈdəl-jən(t)s 

: excessive or unrestrained gratification of one's own appetites, desires, or whims

self-indulgent

ˌself-in-ˈdəl-jənt 

adjective

self-indulgently adverb

self-indulgent

2 of 2

adjective

: indulging oneself or marked by self-indulgence

a mild, self-indulgent bachelor

—G. K. Chesterton

an easy, self-indulgent, dilettante way of looking at life

—Havelock Ellis

self-indulgently

¦⸗⸗¦⸗⸗⸗

adverb

Examples of self-indulgence in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There's no time for any sort of self-indulgence. —Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 31 May 2026

Work that prioritizes the photographer’s visual brand over the authentic emotional content of the day is ultimately a form of self-indulgence. —Ascend Agency, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026

With 17 songs and a long runtime, In Time of Dragons is a reminder that Tori Amos has never shied away from self-indulgence. —Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 30 Apr. 2026

But self-indulgence is the whole point of This Music May Contain Hope, and the album wouldn’t work at all without her flamboyant grandiosity. —Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1636, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-indulgence

• indulgence
• overindulgence

Kids Definition

self-indulgence

noun

self-in·​dul·​gence

ˌsel-fin-ˈdəl-jən(t)s

: the quality or state of being self-indulgent