self-recognition
noun
self-rec·og·ni·tion
ˌself-ˌre-kig-ˈni-shən 
-kəg-
1
: recognition of one's own self
2
: the process by which the immune system of an organism distinguishes between the body's own chemicals, cells, and tissues and those of foreign organisms and agents
Examples of self-recognition in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
According to a new study published in PLOS One, both animals show the behavioral hallmarks of mirror self-recognition—a cognitive ability long considered a marker of self-awareness, and one that had never before been documented in beluga whales.
—
Federica Sgorbissa, ArsTechnica, 24 May 2026
Research from Frontiers in Neurology and Neuroscience links susceptibility to contagious yawning with theory of mind, self-recognition and activation of brain regions associated with social cognition and empathy.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Lent is a time of preparation and self-recognition prior to Easter.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Feb. 2026
Lent is a time of preparation and self-recognition prior to Easter.
—Marina Johnson, IndyStar, 20 Feb. 2026
In this sense, the NSS does not mark a departure in American statecraft so much as a moment of self-recognition.
—Alejandro Reyes, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
That hint of self-recognition winds up being heartbreaking, giving the film’s drama a certain gravity that almost works against its more old-fashioned pleasures.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
Melding the human and nonhuman realms becomes an act of self-recognition for Gander, granting a deeper understanding of himself and the setting of his birth.
—Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025
Whether or not dogs have awareness of themselves as an individual and any sort of mirror self-recognition is still up for debate.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Aug. 2025
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Federica Sgorbissa, ArsTechnica, 24 May 2026
Research from Frontiers in Neurology and Neuroscience links susceptibility to contagious yawning with theory of mind, self-recognition and activation of brain regions associated with social cognition and empathy.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Lent is a time of preparation and self-recognition prior to Easter.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Feb. 2026
Lent is a time of preparation and self-recognition prior to Easter.
—Marina Johnson, IndyStar, 20 Feb. 2026
In this sense, the NSS does not mark a departure in American statecraft so much as a moment of self-recognition.
—Alejandro Reyes, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
That hint of self-recognition winds up being heartbreaking, giving the film’s drama a certain gravity that almost works against its more old-fashioned pleasures.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
Melding the human and nonhuman realms becomes an act of self-recognition for Gander, granting a deeper understanding of himself and the setting of his birth.
—Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025
Whether or not dogs have awareness of themselves as an individual and any sort of mirror self-recognition is still up for debate.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-recognition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-recognition. Accessed 27 May. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
self-recognition
noun
self-rec·og·ni·tion
-ˌrek-əg-ˈnish-ən
: the process by which the immune system of an organism distinguishes between the body's own chemicals, cells, and tissues and those of foreign organisms or agents compare self-tolerance
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