body image

American

noun

an intellectual or idealized image of what one's body is or should be like that is sometimes misconceived in such mental disorders as anorexia nervosa.

body image British

noun

psychol an individual's concept of his or her own body

"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

Etymology

Origin of body image

First recorded in 1930–35

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.

The cases center on users like Kaley G.M., the plaintiff in the Los Angeles case, who said she developed depression, chronic anxiety and body image issues from early and intense exposure to social media.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

"I've struggled with my body image for a lot of my life, as I'm sure most people have," he wrote.

From BBC • Jan. 24, 2026

Yet the group also ventured into deeper territory — boundaries, mental health, body image and community.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 12, 2026

The ad was banned along with two by SkinnyJab and CheqUp for irresponsibly exploiting insecurities around body image.

From BBC • Dec. 16, 2025

Angela had made no mention of Dave Bendix, but she had body image issues that Schmidt rated severe.

From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin

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