self-promotion

noun

self-pro·​mo·​tion ˌself-prə-ˈmō-shən 

plural self-promotions

: the act of furthering one's own growth, advancement, or prosperity : the promotion of oneself

didn't try to disguise his self-promotion

self-promoter

ˌself-prə-ˈmō-tər 

noun

plural self-promoters

a self-promoter who never mentioned his teammates in interviews

They both worked tirelessly on the project and never thought about bringing attention to themselves. They weren't self-promoters …

—Jim Lambert

self-promoting

ˌself-prə-ˈmō-tiŋ 

adjective

self-promoting speeches

a self-promoting celebrity/politician

Examples of self-promotion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

From dismissing others’ ideas to blatant self-promotion at networking events, being overly assertive can erode trust, hinder connection and stall business growth. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025

The design of social media has discouraged casual posting, with metrics that make users feel inadequate for not getting enough attention, and with algorithmic feeds that prioritize popular accounts that post constantly—not mundane moments but punditry, provocation, and self-promotion. —Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 9 July 2025

Nathan’s is also not shy about its original goal of self-promotion. —Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2025

Become comfortable with repetitive, authentic self-promotion. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-promotion

• locomotion
• commotion
• demotion
• devotion
• emotion
• laotian
• promotion
• lotion
• notion
• ocean
• potion