self-expression

American

[self-ik-spresh-uhn, self-] / ˈsɛlf ɪkˈsprɛʃ ən, ˌsɛlf- /

noun

the expression or assertion of one's own personality, as in conversation, behavior, poetry, or painting.

self-expression British

noun

the expression of one's own personality, feelings, etc, as in painting, poetry, or other creative activity

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

self-expressive adjective

Etymology

Origin of self-expression

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Instead, it aims to be a company that encourages consumers’ self-expression, a goal that was informed by those Gen Z interviews, according to Silverstein.

From The Wall Street Journal

"The government hopes that this collective embrace of Fugu will strengthen national unity, stimulate the creative economy, and serve as a powerful symbol of Ghana's cultural confidence and self-expression," the minister added.

From BBC

“Anecdotally, people are kind of bored by the clean, no-frills makeup look” and are into more creative, bolder looks as a means of self-expression, she said.

From MarketWatch

“Strong work cultures are usually built upon shared values, not unfettered self-expression,” the author reminds us.

From The Wall Street Journal

True punk, as in the music genre, teaches us about camaraderie and self-expression that challenges the status quo.

From Salon

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023