self-care
Americannoun
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the act of attending to one’s physical or mental health, generally without medical or other professional consultation (often used attributively).
It’s been a rough week, so this weekend is all about self-care through exercise.
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the products or practices used to comfort or soothe oneself (often used attributively): Taking a bath is a great self-care activity when you’re feeling stressed.
Seeing friends is my self-care.
Taking a bath is a great self-care activity when you’re feeling stressed.
Etymology
Origin of self-care
First recorded in 1860–65
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“And from that perspective, cutting you off becomes a virtuous act of self-care and protecting my mental health.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026
"It's just really chic. And I love less is more, I love minimalism... less consumerism and just self-care things that you could probably do at home."
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026
A further warning sign is when work starts affecting basic self-care, she says.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
The overtly cute approach to self-care was a massive turnoff for me, though that might just be a personality mismatch.
From Slate ● Sep. 6, 2026
The one with self-care and the smiley faces was stuck to the front of the sealed pint of sea salt caramel in the freezer.
From "A High Five for Glenn Burke" by Phil Bildner
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
