self-development

noun

self-de·​vel·​op·​ment ˌself-di-ˈve-ləp-mənt How to pronounce self-development (audio)
-dē-
plural self-developments
: development of one's own capabilities or possibilities
Writing has been for a long time my major tool for self-instruction and self-development.Toni Cade Bambara
a self-development course/program

Examples of self-development in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Happiness Retreat The cornerstone of the Art of Living’s programming is the Happiness Retreat, a 3-day immersive experience that blends ancient yogic wisdom with modern self-development practices. Judy Koutsky, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025 Still, Gen Z is cautious, with 22 percent prioritizing self-development before committing to serious relationships and many cite financial readiness as a key condition for having kids. Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025 This type of self-development dates back to the hugely popular Spiritualist movement of the 19th century. Elizabeth Garner Masarik / Made By History, TIME, 16 Oct. 2024 Making Mindset Accessible to Everyone While some self-development programs can cost thousands of dollars, The US WORK Force™ is designed to be affordable and accessible. William Mullane, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025 Consistently share your goals and progress with your employees to model the importance of continual self-development. Barry Marshall, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025 This is the product of a rigorous education that begins in the elementary school years, building on itself to the point of being an ongoing, lifelong commitment to self-development. Eli Amdur, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025 There is no overcoming the situation; rather, the CEO’s mindset and self-development require attention to prevent excessive overwhelm and unintended behaviors from manifesting. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025 The reason is that there is always room for self-development, and that often includes learning to set limits with people and things that threaten your well-being. Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 27 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-development was in 1817

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Cite this Entry

“Self-development.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-development. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.

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