self-care
Americannoun
-
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.
-
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.
I was the first of my friends to abandon the app, but ironically, there was an unexpected positive effect of having trial-run Finch: I became actually committed to self-care.
From Slate ● Sep. 6, 2026
Finch’s approach to wellness is to gamify self-care.
From Slate ● Sep. 6, 2026
“They know it’s going to create chaos for immigrants and their lawyers,” Navarrete said, looking at her long acrylic nails, which she gets done every other week as a form of self-care.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026
What was once an "aspirational category has now become a daily expression of self-care" for many young Indians, she says.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
“Grace is a wreck before the curtain goes up on opening night. Talk about someone who could probably use some self-care right now!”
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.
