self-taught

American  

[self-tawt] / ˈsɛlfˈtɔt /

adjective

1. having become as specified by teaching oneself, without the aid of formal education.

   She’s a self-taught photographer who sells her work online.

2. learned by oneself.

   Particularly impressive is his self-taught mastery of the guitar.

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self-taught British  

adjective

1. having learnt oneself without any external or formal instruction

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Etymology

Origin of self-taught

First recorded in 1715–25

Example Sentences

The self-taught Mr. Wash ran workshops while incarcerated, helping develop artists who might one day be among the center’s first residents.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

A self-taught chef has been crowned winner of the latest series of the BBC's MasterChef: The Professionals.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

One night Toño is electrified by the playing of a self-taught mestizo guitarist named Lalo Molfino.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

“A lot of people are realizing that processed food is terrible,” says Ruby Balaram, a self-taught canine nutritionist and creator of the weekend’s Feed Real Summit.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026

A self-taught electrician, Tsalig was in high demand to install electricity in our neighbors' newly reconfigured cellars.

From "The Boy on the Wooden Box" by Leon Leyson