self-improvement

American  

[self-im-proov-muhnt, self-] / ˈsɛlf ɪmˈpruv mənt, ˌsɛlf- /

noun

1. improvement of one's mind, character, etc., through one's own efforts.

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self-improvement British  

noun

1. the improvement of one's status, position, education, etc, by one's own efforts

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Other Word Forms

• self-improvable
  adjective
• self-improver
  noun
• self-improving
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of self-improvement

First recorded in 1735–45

Explanation

The process of making yourself a better or more knowledgable person can be called self-improvement. Doing sit-ups every night and learning to speak Mandarin might be part of your new self-improvement routine. Anything you do in an attempt to improve yourself is self-improvement. Volunteering at a homeless shelter, going to college, learning to meditate — all of these things can lead to self-improvement. Often, self-improvement and self-help are used interchangeably. The improvement part of this word originally meant "making money with something," but by the 1640s it came to mean "the act of making better."

Example Sentences

Khushal says the initial appeal of some manosphere influencers was the "self-improvement" message they were spreading, at a time he really needed it.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

Once AI is building better AI, the loop feeds on itself, a process known as recursive self-improvement.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026

Traveling while podcasting has always been a challenge for Chris Williamson, the host of the self-improvement and philosophy podcast “Modern Wisdom.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 7, 2026

For instance: convenience, travel, fitness, experiences, freedom, relationships, generosity, luxury, social status and self-improvement.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 21, 2025

With the financial backing of Durham’s white leaders, Shepard founded North Carolina College, a school based on Washington’s theories of self-improvement.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson