self-judgment: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Psychological, Academic, Self-help
Quick answer
What does “self-judgment” mean?
The act or process of judging or evaluating oneself, often critically.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act or process of judging or evaluating oneself, often critically.
A psychological process involving internal assessment of one's own actions, thoughts, or worth, frequently associated with self-criticism, introspection, and personal standards.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: 'self-judgement' is more common in British English, while 'self-judgment' is standard in American English. The concept is equally understood.
Connotations
Slightly more clinical or therapeutic in American usage; can have a more moral or character-based nuance in some British contexts.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday conversation in both varieties. More common in written, professional, or self-improvement contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “self-judgment” in a Sentence
[Subject] + engage in + self-judgment[Subject] + be + a source of + self-judgment[Subject] + lead to + self-judgmentfree [oneself] from + self-judgmentVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “self-judgment” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She would constantly judge herself too harshly.
- One must learn not to judge oneself by impossible standards.
American English
- He judges himself relentlessly for minor mistakes.
- Try not to judge yourself based on a single outcome.
adverb
British English
- He reviewed his work self-judgingly.
- She spoke self-judgingly about her past.
American English
- He analyzed his performance self-judgingly.
- She answered the question self-judgingly.
adjective
British English
- She was in a self-judging frame of mind after the meeting.
- His self-judging tendencies were well known.
American English
- A self-judging attitude can be corrosive.
- He's prone to self-judging thoughts.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in leadership or coaching contexts: 'Excessive self-judgment can hinder decision-making.'
Academic
Common in psychology, philosophy, and sociology papers discussing self-concept, metacognition, or moral psychology.
Everyday
Used in conversations about mental well-being, personal growth, or therapy: 'I'm trying to be kinder and reduce my self-judgment.'
Technical
A specific term in clinical psychology and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), often a target for therapeutic intervention.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “self-judgment”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “self-judgment”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “self-judgment”
- Using it as a verb ('I self-judge' is non-standard; use 'I judge myself').
- Confusing it with 'self-awareness', which is more neutral.
- Misspelling as one word ('selfjudgment').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically yes, it implies a critical evaluation. For a neutral or positive process, terms like 'self-reflection' or 'self-assessment' are preferred.
Self-awareness is the conscious knowledge of one's own character and feelings. Self-judgment is the evaluation (often critical) that follows from that awareness.
Yes, the standard form is hyphenated: self-judgment (or self-judgement in UK English). The hyphen is used because 'self' is a prefix attached to a noun ('judgment').
No, it is not standard. The correct phrasing is 'to judge oneself.' For example, 'She judges herself too harshly,' not 'She self-judges too harshly.'
The act or process of judging or evaluating oneself, often critically.
Self-judgment is usually formal, psychological, academic, self-help in register.
Self-judgment: in British English it is pronounced /ˌself ˈdʒʌdʒ.mənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌself ˈdʒʌdʒ.mənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To be one's own harshest critic (related concept)”
- “To pass judgment on oneself”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a judge's GAVEL hitting the bench inside your own MIND. SELF + JUDGE + MENT = the mental act of judging oneself.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MIND IS A COURTROOM (where the self is both the judge and the defendant).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the CLOSEST synonym for 'self-judgment' in a psychological context?