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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Moreover, everyone can, and should, try to improve their mathematical thinking—not necessarily to solve math problems, but as a general self-help technique. Kelsey Houston-Edwards, WIRED, 8 Dec. 2024 Perhaps that’s why his debut album as Chanel Beads is filled with self-help idioms and reflections on internal conflicts. Pitchfork, 3 Dec. 2024 The two men’s paths had first crossed in Detroit, where Fard Muhammad was a street peddler of silk goods who also preached a self-help faith. Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune, 1 Dec. 2024 Is emotional intelligence a legitimate concept or just a passing trend in self-help? Quora, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for self-help 

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 22 Dec. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!