body image

American  

noun

1. 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.

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body image British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of body image

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

And certainly, the kind of extreme, celebrity-endorsed diet hack that would have done irreparable damage to my younger self’s own body image and understanding of healthy eating.

From Salon • May 17, 2026

Swedish star Felicia is known for wearing a protective face mask during her performances - which is more to do with body image than a fear of disease.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

Men and boys of all ages are increasingly focusing on appearance and body image, a domain that has long been associated with women.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

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

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

From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin