self-taught
Americanadjective
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having become as specified by teaching oneself, without the aid of formal education.
She’s a self-taught photographer who sells her work online.
-
learned by oneself.
Particularly impressive is his self-taught mastery of the guitar.
adjective
Etymology
Origin of self-taught
First recorded in 1715–25
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.
Further outside the industry is Eliezer Yudkowsky, a self-taught theorist who has spent two decades arguing that a sufficiently powerful AI would wipe out humanity.
From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026
"I wouldn't have the same ability in playing the correct shots. I'm just self-taught."
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
A largely self-taught economist, he founded a successful economic forecasting firm in the 1950s.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
Among the goals for the self-taught designer: to uplift Central American culture in fashion.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2026
Every art book Mrs. Richardson consulted described her in glowing terms: a self-taught genius, a feminist photographic pioneer, a dynamic and generous intellect.
From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
