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

True punk, as in the music genre, teaches us about camaraderie and self-expression that challenges the status quo.

From Salon

The aesthetic—defined by color, self-expression and a kind of accessible euphoria—reflects a generational move toward communities built through presence rather than platforms.

From The Wall Street Journal

This time, he tantalizes us with the milieu of nightclub self-expression and a group of regular amateurs Alex gets comfortable hanging with.

From Los Angeles Times

The second value is voice, the term we use to describe the desire for authentic, individualistic self-expression—for instance, the freedom to be oneself without judgment from others.

From The Wall Street Journal

More recently, many women around the world have taken it up as a group fitness routine and form of empowering self-expression.

From Barron's