do-it-yourself

noun

do-it-your·​self ˌdü-i-chər-ˈself How to pronounce do-it-yourself (audio)
ˌdü-it-yər-
often attributive
: the activity of doing or making something (as in woodworking or home repair) without professional training or assistance
broadly : an activity in which one does something oneself or on one's own initiative
do-it-yourselfer noun

Examples of do-it-yourself in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web So many legends have heard it as a dare, an invitation, a map to their do-it-yourself future. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2024 Workarounds and do-it-yourself repairs reduce the productivity of research staff by up to 40 percent, according to the committee’s interviews with employees during a laboratory visit. Cat Zakrzewski, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 Ghosts guns are do-it-yourself firearms assembled from parts that often come in prepackaged kits. Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Feb. 2024 After a pandemic-era renovation craze, the nation’s two largest home improvement retailers say customers are spending less on big projects in favor of cheaper do-it-yourself fixes. Brian Cheung, NBC News, 28 Feb. 2024 The moon meeting Uranus inspires a practical do-it-yourself attitude. USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2024 Couples on a tighter budget might choose the do-it-yourself route or other more affordable options. Rachel Simon, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2024 That said, more and more customers are attracted to and embracing a do-it-yourself customer service experience, known as self-service. Shep Hyken, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2024 On this note, Gregory feels that in some ways, the landscape today remains similarly inaccessible, meaning that the enterprising, do-it-yourself attitudes of the 1980s and 1990s are still present among new and emerging artists. Suyin Haynes, CNN, 15 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'do-it-yourself.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of do-it-yourself was in 1952

Dictionary Entries Near do-it-yourself

Cite this Entry

“Do-it-yourself.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/do-it-yourself. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

do-it-yourself

adjective
do-it-your·​self
ˌdü-ə-chər-ˈself
: of, relating to, or designed for a person without professional training or help to do or make
do-it-yourselfer
-ˈsel-fər
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on do-it-yourself

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