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

Theodor Thomas was, as well, a painter with a visionary sensibility and a pianist, self-taught other than a handful of lessons from Gershwin.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

The Gitters created a foundation to promote the study of Japanese art and American self-taught art and set up the Gitter-Yelen Art Study Center in a building next to their New Orleans home.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

“A Good Day’s Work” sets out to recast Moses as more complicated than the cheerful, childlike images her name conjures and as a legitimizer of self-taught art.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

He said being self-taught often led him to question his ability as a chef, but he had felt proud to stand side-by-side with fellow contestants "with my head held high".

From BBC • Mar. 26, 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