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Synonyms

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.


self-love British  

noun

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

"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-love

First recorded in 1555–65

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:

“Her message of self-love and living more authentically is the reason I started the book club in the first place.”

From Los Angeles Times ● May 4, 2026

The Love Yourself albums, which centered on self-love, mental health and personal growth resonated across cultures.

From BBC ● Apr. 8, 2026

The diet culture of the ’90s was never totally vanquished, and Ozempic has complicated narratives about body size, health, and self-love, to put it mildly.

From Slate ● Mar. 31, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026

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

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