self-love

American  

[self-luhv] / ˈsɛlfˈlʌv /

noun

1. the instinct by which one's actions are directed to the promotion of one's own welfare or well-being, especially an excessive regard for one's own advantage.

2. conceit; vanity.

3. narcissism.

---

self-love British  

noun

1. the instinct or tendency to seek one's own well-being or to further one's own interest

---

Other Word Forms

• self-loving adjective

Etymology

Origin of self-love

First recorded in 1555–65

Example Sentences

The diet culture of the ’90s was never totally vanquished, and Ozempic has complicated narratives about body size, health, and self-love, to put it mildly.

From Slate • Mar. 31, 2026

The self-love script took hold in part because it offered a comforting narrative.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 2, 2026

For Collins, “Shirley Valentine” was more than just an ode to womanhood, self-love and self-discovery.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 6, 2025

It has also brought mental health issues into public conversation - RM of BTS, the globally renowned K-pop group known for songs promoting self-love, is among those who have shared the book online.

From BBC • Oct. 18, 2025

I’d been way off course, theorizing jealous secrets, when Sela’s actual truth was another thing I’d always sucked at: self-love.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith