Self refers to a person’s own identityThe qualities and sense of who a person is. or individualityThe special traits that make one person different from others.. It can also be used in compoundsWords formed by joining two or more separate words. like self-control or self-made, where it means “related to oneself.”
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /sɛlf/
Easy pronunciation: SELF (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable, stressed.
Noun: your consciousness of your own identity.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Self Meaning
your sense of who you are
Part of speech: noun
Definition: your consciousness of your own identity
Example: She struggled to build a stronger sense of self.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- ego — Works as a close synonym in psychology or abstract discussion of identity, though it can sound more technical or different in tone.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Self
Meaning 2
the person you are, as an individual
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a person considered as a unique individual
Example: He kept trying to be his true self.
Meaning 3
used in words that mean ‘about or done by oneself’
Definition: (used as a combining form) relating to–of or by or to or from or for–the self
Example: self-control, self-aware, self-proclaimed
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Self Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- ego
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes use self as if it were a normal synonym for “person,” but in everyday English it usually appears in phrases like “sense of self” or in compound words.
- Do not confuse self with self- as a prefix in words like self-esteem or self-service; those are related forms, not separate synonyms.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does self mean?
Self usually means a person’s own identity or sense of who they are. It also appears in compound words like self-control, where it means “by oneself” or “about oneself.”
What is a synonym for self?
In the identity sense, a close synonym is ego. For the prefix-like use in compounds, there usually isn’t a single direct synonym.
Is self a noun?
Yes. It is usually a noun, though it also appears in compound forms such as self-made and self-aware.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
