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.
The one-and-a-half-hour course, released October 8 as part of the self-help brand’s standard $10-per-month subscription plan, serves as a tidy reintroduction to Harry following his family’s recent move back to the UK. — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 8 Oct. 2026 And though history, crime, and self-help books still persuade a certain type, the most recent NEA survey found that a mere quarter of men picked up a book of fiction in 2025. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026 The motion calls for allocating millions of dollars annually to fully fund nine county-run self-help legal centers that assist people navigating the restraining order process. — Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026 In 2009, a group of self-help devotees at a retreat in Arizona participated in a sweat lodge ceremony. — Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 4 Oct. 2026 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

Rhymes for self-help

See All Rhymes for self-help

Browse Nearby Words

self-healing
self-help
self-heterodyne
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-help.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-help. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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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.

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