self-love: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
ModerateFormal, Academic, Informal (self-help contexts)
Quick answer
What does “self-love” mean?
Regard for one's own well-being and happiness.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Regard for one's own well-being and happiness.
In psychology, it denotes healthy self-esteem or self-compassion; in negative contexts, it can imply narcissism or excessive self-admiration.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; the word is used similarly in both varieties, but it may be more entrenched in American self-help discourse.
Connotations
Generally positive in modern usage, emphasizing well-being; in British English, it can sometimes carry a more clinical or psychological tone.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to cultural emphasis on self-improvement and wellness movements.
Grammar
How to Use “self-love” in a Sentence
have self-lovedevelop self-loveself-love is essentialVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “self-love” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She prioritises self-love in her daily routine.
American English
- He focuses on self-love to improve his mental health.
adverb
British English
- She spoke about self-love passionately during the workshop.
American English
- He approaches self-love consistently in his life.
adjective
British English
- Her self-love journey has been transformative.
American English
- Their self-love practices are well-documented.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; may appear in leadership training or personal development seminars.
Academic
Common in psychology, sociology, and mental health research.
Everyday
Frequent in conversations about mental well-being, self-help, and lifestyle.
Technical
Used in clinical psychology and therapeutic practices, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “self-love”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “self-love”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “self-love”
- Confusing self-love with selfishness or egotism, which are different concepts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Self-love is generally positive and about healthy self-regard, while narcissism involves excessive self-admiration and lack of empathy.
Common practices include self-care activities, positive self-talk, and setting healthy boundaries.
No, selfishness involves disregarding others' needs, whereas self-love focuses on one's own well-being without necessarily harming others.
It is linked to better mental health outcomes, such as reduced anxiety and depression, and increased life satisfaction.
Regard for one's own well-being and happiness.
Self-love is usually formal, academic, informal (self-help contexts) in register.
Self-love: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɛlf ˈlʌv/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɛlf ˈləv/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Combine 'self' (oneself) and 'love' (affection) to remember it means loving oneself.
Conceptual Metaphor
SELF IS AN OBJECT OF AFFECTION
Practice
Quiz
Which term is most closely related to positive self-love?