self-expression

American  

[self-ik-spresh-uhn, self-] / ˈsɛlf ɪkˈsprɛʃ ən, ˌsɛlf- /

noun

1. the expression or assertion of one's own personality, as in conversation, behavior, poetry, or painting.

---

self-expression British  

noun

1. the expression of one's own personality, feelings, etc, as in painting, poetry, or other creative activity

---

Other Word Forms

• self-expressive
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of self-expression

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

self-expression

“Now a lot of people want self-expression out of drag. They want to portray their own artistic talent through drag, rather than just emulating someone.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 30, 2026

It is that fandom, companionship, self-expression, and immersive experiences are becoming more formalized parts of the consumption story.

From Barron's ● Apr. 11, 2026

While the documentary captures parts of the creative process that includes self-expression and personal exploration, a recurring pattern emerges of how much the conversation revolves around other people’s desires for the album.

From Salon ● Mar. 27, 2026

Instead, it aims to be a company that encourages consumers’ self-expression, a goal that was informed by those Gen Z interviews, according to Silverstein.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 25, 2026

And the point was not self-expression alone but to make oneself understood by many others.

From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez