self-conscious

American  

[self-kon-shuhs, self-] / ˈsɛlfˈkɒn ʃəs, ˌsɛlf- /

adjective

1. excessively aware of being observed by others.

2. conscious of oneself or one's own being.

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self-conscious British  

adjective

1. unduly aware of oneself as the object of the attention of others; embarrassed

2. conscious of one's existence

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Usage

What does self-conscious mean? Self-conscious means overly aware of and sensitive to attention from others, often to the point of feeling anxious or embarrassed. In this sense, self-conscious is always used negatively. A person can be self-conscious in general, or about a particular aspect of themselves. Much less commonly, it is used to mean aware of one’s existence. Example: She says she never wears short-sleeved shirts because she’s self-conscious about the way her arms look.

Other Word Forms

• self-consciously
  adverb
• self-consciousness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of self-conscious

First recorded in 1670–80

Explanation

Use the adjective self-conscious to describe someone who is ill at ease or uncomfortable with himself. A self-conscious person might worry about how he looks or whether he's saying the right things. Being self-conscious goes beyond just being aware of yourself — when you're self-conscious, you constantly question the way you appear to others. You might feel self-conscious when you stand in front of a group to give a speech, or when you're trying out for a movie or a play. The word first meant "conscious of one's own action" when it emerged in the 1680s, and by 1830s it had come to mean "preoccupied with one's own personality."

Example Sentences

Would I emerge kinder, more resilient—or plagued with unexpected self-consciousness about one of the few areas of my life for which I haven’t felt self-conscious?

From Slate • May 10, 2026

But classic feels too fusty and self-conscious, even though “Hokum” has all the tropes: looming figures, clanging bells, ominous dumbwaiters.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

So he always appreciated the ability to point to his official biography on MLB.com, where he was listed at that critical height for the self-conscious male: 6-feet even.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

While the ability to straddle two generations was once a badge of honour, Ji says he has become self-conscious about interacting with younger colleagues for fear of being labelled a kkondae or Young 40.

From BBC • Jan. 17, 2026

I’d grown tired of both the bathroom and the library, and enough time had passed that I no longer felt too self-conscious about eating alone.

From "A Very Large Expanse of Sea" by Tahereh Mafi

Related Words

• anxious
• awkward
• bashful
• embarrassed
• mannered
• nervous
• sheepish
• shy
• stiff
• stilted
• uncomfortable
• uneasy
• unsure