sense of self

American  

noun

senses of self plural

1. a person's awareness of being an individual distinct from others.

2. an idea or conception of one's own identity and value.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• senses of self
  plural

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sense of self

An ally concedes: "He has that strong sense of self – but it does waver sometimes."

From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026

It makes me wonder if what makes a boy’s mother a Boy Mom is a sense of self that requires the consistent validation of being needed.

From Salon ● Jun. 4, 2026

It was Clouseau, or whichever character he was playing, who was trying to maintain his dignity and failing miserably but trying to hold on to a sense of self and composure while everything is crumbling.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 9, 2026

"The findings may provide new insights into psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, where the sense of self is disturbed."

From Science Daily ● Jan. 14, 2026

I had so much—an education, a healthy sense of self, a deep arsenal of ambition—and I was wise enough to credit my mother, in particular, with instilling it in me.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama