self-love

American  

[self-luhv] / ˈsɛlfˈlʌv /

noun

1. the instinct by which one's actions are directed to the promotion of one's own welfare or well-being, especially an excessive regard for one's own advantage.

2. conceit; vanity.

3. narcissism.

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self-love British  

noun

1. the instinct or tendency to seek one's own well-being or to further one's own interest

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Other Word Forms

• self-loving adjective

Etymology

Origin of self-love

First recorded in 1555–65

Example Sentences

The self-love script took hold in part because it offered a comforting narrative.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 2, 2026

It has also brought mental health issues into public conversation - RM of BTS, the globally renowned K-pop group known for songs promoting self-love, is among those who have shared the book online.

From BBC • Oct. 18, 2025

You write in the first few pages of your book that writing it was “an act of self-love after decades of defiance.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 24, 2025

The “meaning” of gay and lesbian identification alluded to here was akin to the promise of coming out: allowing self-love, acceptance, and pride to model a utopian world where all are valued.

From Slate • Apr. 7, 2025

It was rather like that Christmas morning sensation of being about to give a present that was bound to cause delight, a joyful feeling of blameless self-love.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan