self-knowledge

American

[self-nol-ij, self-] / ˌsɛlfˈnɒl ɪdʒ, ˈsɛlf- /

noun

knowledge or understanding of oneself, one's character, abilities, motives, etc.

self-knowledge British

noun

knowledge of one's own character, etc

"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-knowledge

First recorded in 1605–15

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:

self-knowledge

“What I have discovered seems to suggest that it is only through self-knowledge that genuine happiness experienced,” he tells Mary.

From Salon ● Jun. 25, 2026

Les and Lindy fall in and out of understanding as they drift into a state of war; she gains power, self-knowledge and self-sufficiency, even as he falls apart.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2026

In time, he is undone by his utter lack of self-knowledge.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2025

"These findings suggest that reaching to the body may be equally important and that exploring the body is the gateway to self-knowledge."

From Science Daily ● Mar. 13, 2024

And in spite of this self-knowledge I equipped Rocinante with enough writing material to take care of ten volumes.

From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023