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Showing results for self-expression. Search instead for self-expressiveness.

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.


self-expression British  

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of self-expression

First recorded in 1890–95

Vocabulary lists containing self-expression

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.

See Examples For:

Like all personal collections, Monroe’s was a form of self-expression.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 5, 2026

But she added that it can also play an important role in children's lives "by supporting communication, self-expression, access to information, participation, play, and connection with communities and support networks".

From BBC May 29, 2026

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

I don’t want a child who feeds on praise and expects a star for effort and talks back to adults in the name of self-expression.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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