do-it-yourself

American  

[doo-i-cher-self, -it-yer-] / ˈdu ɪ tʃərˈsɛlf, -ɪt jər- /

DIY,

adjective

1. of or designed for construction or use by amateurs without special training.

   a do-it-yourself kit for building a radio.

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noun

1. the practice or hobby of building or repairing things for oneself, usually in one's own home.

do-it-yourself British  

noun

1. 1. the hobby or process of constructing and repairing things oneself

   2. ( as modifier )

      a do-it-yourself kit

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Other Word Forms

• do-it-yourselfer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of do-it-yourself

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

do-it-yourself

The San Fernando Valley, especially in Burbank, is a region now known for extravagant, do-it-yourself Halloween displays.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

Immediate annuities could be better described as do-it-yourself pensions.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026

Others took a more simple do-it-yourself approach, taping their cards between two star-shaped pieces of paper.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 22, 2026

The bet paid off when their do-it-yourself season premiered on Netflix in 2024 and went to No. 1.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

I leaned to the side to see, sitting across from me, a short, scrawny Black boy with a do-it-yourself haircut, thick red-and-black-framed glasses, super-baggy cargo shorts, and a Malcolm X T-shirt.

From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia

Related Words

• handmade