self-expression

American  

[self-ik-spresh-uhn, self-] / ˈsɛlf ɪkˈsprɛʃ ən, ˌsɛlf- /

noun

1. the expression or assertion of one's own personality, as in conversation, behavior, poetry, or painting.

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self-expression British  

noun

1. the expression of one's own personality, feelings, etc, as in painting, poetry, or other creative activity

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Other Word Forms

• self-expressive
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of self-expression

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Here, it’s a bridge between people, a tool for self-expression, a way to understand your own taste and increasingly, a reason to connect.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

It is that fandom, companionship, self-expression, and immersive experiences are becoming more formalized parts of the consumption story.

From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026

While the documentary captures parts of the creative process that includes self-expression and personal exploration, a recurring pattern emerges of how much the conversation revolves around other people’s desires for the album.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

"The government hopes that this collective embrace of Fugu will strengthen national unity, stimulate the creative economy, and serve as a powerful symbol of Ghana's cultural confidence and self-expression," the minister added.

From BBC • Feb. 11, 2026

And the point was not self-expression alone but to make oneself understood by many others.

From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez