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Synonyms

self-immolation

American  
[self-im-uh-ley-shuhn] / ˈsɛlfˌɪm əˈleɪ ʃən /

noun

  1. voluntary sacrifice or denial of oneself, as for an ideal or another person.


self-immolation British  

noun

  1. the act or an instance of setting fire to oneself

"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

Etymology

Origin of self-immolation

First recorded in 1810–20

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.

The closest parallel — absent that above-referenced self-immolation — was in 1998.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

All this comes on the heels of some questionable behavior and ill-advised alliances, among them: the divorce from Sarah “Fergie” Ferguson, hanging around with Jeffrey Epstein, and the self-immolation by TV interview in 2019.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 2, 2025

His death, captured in an iconic photo by American photographer Malcolm Browne, drew global attention to Vietnam — and to political self-immolation.

From Salon • May 4, 2024

At the site of his self-immolation, her comments resonated with the visiting Chinese: “The predicament of a country can only be resolved by the people of that country themselves.”

From New York Times • Jan. 19, 2024

The ancient German custom approved of the self-immolation of a widow at her husband's death, but did not require it.

From Folkways A Study of the Sociological Importance of Usages, Manners, Customs, Mores, and Morals by Sumner, William Graham

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