self-educated

[self-ej-oo-key-tid, self-]

adjective

1. educated by one's own efforts, especially without formal instruction.

self-educated

adjective

1. educated through one's own efforts without formal instruction

2. educated at one's own expense, without financial aid

Other Word Forms

• self-education noun
• self-educating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-educated¹

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

John Spargo, a self-educated British stonemason who emigrated to New York in 1901, became an unlikely political theorist of the movement.

From Los Angeles Times

Her lack of art-school education may have set her apart but, Homer French points out, every artist is self-educated.

From New York Times

Donkey isn’t allowed to go to school, so she is more or less self-educated, and her only friend is her dog.

From Los Angeles Times

He was self-educated and a natural leader, who eventually was betrayed and murdered by his enemies in 1840.

From Los Angeles Times

Dr Croft said he did and added he was an independent "educated and self-educated observer".

From BBC