self-help

noun

ˈself-ˈhelp How to pronounce self-help (audio)
 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 The self-help expert’s guide to building good habits and breaking bad ones via tiny changes in behavior. The California Independent Booksellers Alliance, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024 By pooling their finances, some self-help groups have paid for bore wells and installed solar pumps to draw water – allowing for more profitable yields and larger income streams. Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Mar. 2024 These historical forces undergird many of the interactions Black women have when attempting to date online, and even explain the predatory glut of relationship self-help books marketed to Black women. Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2024 Some influencers in the trade promote bootleg copies of self-help books, like Morgan Housel’s The Psychology of Money. Louise Matsakis, WIRED, 10 Mar. 2024 Intuit said the bot is a hybrid of the self-help system it’s had for years and newer generative AI technology designed to help people with less-common questions. Geoffrey A. Fowler, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2024 Lenz’s impulse to generalize is so strong that at times her work whiffs of self-help. Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2024 And self-help author Marianne Williamson, who also appears on the ballot, suspended her presidential bid earlier this month. Ashley Lopez, NPR, 27 Feb. 2024 The Democratic ballot lists President Biden, Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips and self-help author Marianne Williamson, who ended her campaign earlier this month. Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'self-help.' 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

1628, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-help was in 1628

Dictionary Entries Near self-help

Cite this Entry

“Self-help.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-help. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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.

More from Merriam-Webster on self-help

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