self-study

American  

[self-stuhd-ee] / ˈsɛlfˈstʌd i /

noun

self-studies plural

1. the study of something by oneself, as through books, records, etc., without direct supervision or attendance in a class.

   She learned to read German by self-study.

2. the study of oneself; self-examination.

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adjective

1. designed for or accomplished by self-study.

   a self-study course for learning German.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• self-studies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of self-study

First recorded in 1675–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

self-study self-studies

She ended up graduating with a 2:1, but believes the first-year disruption impacted her overall grade, saying she had to do a lot of self-study to get her good marks.

From BBC ● Feb. 20, 2026

There are also weekly self-study sessions using videos and worksheets.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 4, 2023

I admit, my self-study proved to be pretty darn anxiety-producing.

From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2023

A diligent student who learned calculus through online self-study, she couldn’t concentrate in class.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 8, 2020

Suddenly a voice asked, “Teacher Zhang, since it’s self-study, can we go home to do it?”

From "Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution" by Ji-li Jiang

Carlile is a master of the voice-cracking power ballad, and her intimate self-studies nevertheless speak to anyone who has ever felt like a misfit, which is just about everyone.

From New York Times ● Apr. 1, 2021

Feilding also recommends that the seminaries and churches conduct ceaseless self-studies to make sure that their procedures, and their products, are up to date.

From Time Magazine Archive

The Wallace Collection in London alone possesses two of the master's self-studies, as does also the Berlin Picture-Gallery, all of which are contemporary with this picture.

From The Standard Galleries - Holland by Singleton, Esther