self-expression

American  

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

noun

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

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self-expression British  

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• self-expressive adjective

Etymology

Origin of self-expression

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

“Marc by Sofia” is a deceptively heartwarming ode to self-expression, and the kind of life that can be cobbled together with an unyielding commitment to individuality.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

“That’s really when memory structures are being formed, when self-expression is being negotiated, and we found being relevant at that time is so important for being relevant for the rest of time,” Silverstein said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

“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 • Feb. 7, 2026

More recently, many women around the world have taken it up as a group fitness routine and form of empowering self-expression.

From Barron's • Nov. 10, 2025

And the point was not self-expression alone but to make oneself understood by many others.

From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez