self-assured
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of self-assured
First recorded in 1705–15
Explanation
Someone who's self-assured is confident in themselves. It's a lot easier to speak in front of a large group when you're self-assured. If you're shy and unsure of yourself, you'll never be described as self-assured. The self-assured people in your life are the ones who speak up confidently, stand up for themselves, and are poised and positive. This adjective first appeared in the early 18th century, from self and assured, which shares the Latin root securus, "safe," with the word secure.
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.
To her credit, Ms. Romvari directs with self-assured but unshowy inventiveness.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026
She was aspirationally fit but unthreatening and strikingly self-assured.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026
The clip is worth watching, and not just to marvel yet again at Vance’s ability to make idiotic statements in the self-assured tone of the smartest boy in the room.
From Salon • Apr. 1, 2026
“Katie’s a very tenacious, self-assured individual,” recalled Jordan Ball, who was a senator for the opposition party.
From Slate • Dec. 18, 2025
I could explain it by arguing that profiting from a pitiful flying fish’s navigational mistake made me shy and sorrowful, while the excitement of actively capturing a great dorado made me sanguinary and self-assured.
From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
