do-it-yourself

American  

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

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

The maker of house paint said demand from do-it-yourself customers remained weak and warned that it may continue raising prices to offset the inflationary impact of geopolitical upheaval and the related spike in energy costs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

Management cautioned that demand from do-it-yourself customers remained soft in the first quarter, with CEO Heidi Petz adding that she saw “little to no recovery in most end markets this year.”

From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026

The head of environmental group Legambiente, Stefano Ciafani, described the 18 deaths as an "unprecedented attack on protected wildlife" and an example of "do-it-yourself justice".

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

What emerges is a story of youth and rebellion and the surprising discipline of do-it-yourself culture.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 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