self-knowledge

American  

[self-nol-ij, self-] / ˌsɛlfˈnɒl ɪdʒ, ˈsɛlf- /

noun

1. knowledge or understanding of oneself, one's character, abilities, motives, etc.

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self-knowledge British  

noun

1. knowledge of one's own character, etc

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Etymology

Origin of self-knowledge

First recorded in 1605–15

Example Sentences

Les and Lindy fall in and out of understanding as they drift into a state of war; she gains power, self-knowledge and self-sufficiency, even as he falls apart.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

Stylishness was certainly important to Mr. Stern, and he had enough self-knowledge to laugh about it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025

“Maybe,” she reasons with a weary sigh, arriving at some self-knowledge, “I’m just kinda like this.”

From New York Times • Dec. 6, 2023

Insight refers to a self-knowledge and understanding of how thoughts and feelings participate in shaping our perception -- and how to transform unhelpful patterns of thought relating to ourselves and the world.

From Science Daily • Dec. 1, 2023

This knowledge, like so much of my self-knowledge, had come to me in the voice of people I knew, people I loved.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover