self-definition
|self-def-i-ni-tion|
/ˌsɛlf dɛfəˈnɪʃən/
defining one's identity
Etymology
'self-definition' originates from Modern English as a compound of 'self' (from Old English 'self'), where 'self' meant 'one's own person', and 'definition' (from Latin 'definitio'), where 'definitio' meant 'a limiting, explanation or determination of meaning'.
'definition' comes from Latin 'definire'/'definitio' (to limit, determine) and passed into Old French and Middle English before becoming Modern English 'definition'; 'self' is inherited from Old English 'self' (same form) and was later combined with 'definition' in Modern English to form the compound 'self-definition'.
Originally related to giving a boundary or precise meaning ('definition'), the compound came to mean specifically the act of applying that defining process to one's own person or identity ('self-definition').
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act or process of defining oneself; a person's description or understanding of their own identity.
Her self-definition as an activist shaped the choices she made in her career.
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Noun 2
a particular statement or description someone uses to present who they are (how they label themselves to others).
In interviews, his self-definition as a scientist was emphasized more than his role as a manager.
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Last updated: 2026/01/08 13:59