self-education

noun

self-ed·​u·​ca·​tion ˌself-ˌe-jə-ˈkā-shən 

plural self-educations

: the act or process of educating oneself by one's own efforts especially through reading and informal study

… her painstaking self-education in all matters pertaining to New York …

—James Traub

also : the skills or knowledge attained through self-education

[Mark] Coen purchased the old church for its space, moved in and set up shop while endeavoring to achieve a self-education in carpentry.

—Carrie Manner

Examples of self-education in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Founding father Benjamin Franklin knew better than most the benefits of self-education. —Elizabeth Webster, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024

Lee’s twenties were also a time of self-education and inquiry. —Emily Witt, The New Yorker, 2 Feb. 2024

Give back through volunteering, donating, or self-education, the better to ramp up empathy and connectedness. —Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 24 Dec. 2023

But ultimately, this method really comes down to thoughtfulness, artistry, and a little self-education. —Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2023

This book, Smiley’s 14th, fulfills two missions: first, as the exhilarating chronicle of a writer’s constant self-education. —Joan Frank, BostonGlobe.com, 15 June 2023

The most important thing is to approach the subject of cultural identity and history with openness and curiosity with the intention of self-education. —Shanon Maglente, Good Housekeeping, 28 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1782, in the meaning defined above