self-effacement: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, literary, academic
Quick answer
What does “self-effacement” mean?
The act of making oneself inconspicuous or not drawing attention to one's own qualities or achievements.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of making oneself inconspicuous or not drawing attention to one's own qualities or achievements.
A habitual tendency to avoid prominence, often stemming from modesty, shyness, or a desire to avoid conflict. In some contexts, it can imply excessive humility or a lack of self-assertion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. The concept is equally understood in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more common in British English in descriptions of character, often associated with traditional British reserve. In American English, may be more frequently discussed in psychological or self-help contexts.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech in both varieties, but appears in formal writing, biographies, and literary criticism.
Grammar
How to Use “self-effacement” in a Sentence
[Subject]'s self-effacementself-effacement of [Person]act with self-effacementbe known for one's self-effacementVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “self-effacement” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She tends to self-efface in group settings.
- He self-effaced so thoroughly that no one remembered his contribution.
American English
- She self-effaces whenever praise is directed her way.
- He has a tendency to self-efface during negotiations.
adverb
British English
- He smiled self-effacingly and changed the subject.
- She mentioned her award self-effacingly, as if it were nothing.
American English
- He shrugged self-effacingly when asked about his role.
- She spoke self-effacingly of her accomplishments.
adjective
British English
- His self-effacing manner belied his great expertise.
- She offered a self-effacing apology for the mix-up.
American English
- He gave a self-effacing laugh when complimented.
- Her self-effacing humour made her very approachable.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used in leadership critiques: 'His self-effacement sometimes prevented him from advocating for his team's budget.'
Academic
Common in literary criticism, biography, psychology, and sociology to analyse character or social behaviour.
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation. Might be used in more thoughtful discussions about personality.
Technical
Used in psychology and personality theory (e.g., in contrast to narcissism).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “self-effacement”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “self-effacement”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “self-effacement”
- Misspelling as 'self-effacemant' or 'self-effasement'.
- Using it as an adjective (correct adjective is 'self-effacing').
- Confusing it with 'self-sacrifice', which is about giving up something for others, not just avoiding attention.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is context-dependent. It is generally positive, denoting modesty and humility. However, in contexts requiring self-advocacy (e.g., business, politics), it can be perceived negatively as a lack of confidence or assertiveness.
Modesty is a broader attitude of not being overly proud. Self-effacement is a specific behaviour or tendency to actively make oneself inconspicuous or to downplay one's role; it is often seen as a stronger, more behavioural form of modesty.
The standard verb is 'to efface oneself'. The use of 'self-efface' as a verb (e.g., 'he self-effaces') is rare, non-standard, and generally not recommended. The adjective 'self-effacing' and noun 'self-effacement' are the standard forms.
Yes, the related adjective is 'self-effacing', as in 'a self-effacing person' or 'a self-effacing remark'.
The act of making oneself inconspicuous or not drawing attention to one's own qualities or achievements.
Self-effacement is usually formal, literary, academic in register.
Self-effacement: in British English it is pronounced /ˌself ɪˈfeɪsmənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌself əˈfeɪsmənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To hide one's light under a bushel (related concept)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'efface' as in 'to erase'. SELF-EFFACEMENT is erasing or making your SELF less visible.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE SELF IS AN OBJECT THAT CAN BE MINIMISED/ERASED.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST synonym for 'self-effacement' in the context of 'her habitual self-effacement at work'?