self-esteem

American

[self-i-steem, self-] / ˈsɛlf ɪˈstim, ˌsɛlf- /

noun

a realistic respect for or favorable impression of oneself; self-respect.

Antonyms:

diffidence
an inordinately or exaggeratedly favorable impression of oneself.

Her self-esteem can sometimes be very annoying.

Antonyms:

diffidence

self-esteem British

noun

respect for or a favourable opinion of oneself
an unduly high opinion of oneself; vanity

"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

Related Words

See pride.

Etymology

Origin of self-esteem

First recorded in 1650–60

Compare meaning

How does self-esteem compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

self-worth vs. self-esteem

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.

Much of the current research focuses on depression, while other important outcomes such as anxiety, stress, externalizing behaviors, self-esteem and aggression have received far less attention.

From Science Daily • Mar. 29, 2026

At first, she thought it was low self-esteem and depression.

From BBC • Feb. 17, 2026

“It was a self-esteem issue. It was an issue of me saying to myself, ‘You’re not good enough.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2026

And fortunately for their self-esteem, investors are increasingly likely to buy and sell exchange-traded funds tracking whole sectors rather than individual stocks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 2, 2026

But the surgery did wonders for her self-esteem.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023