self-revelation: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, literary, academic
Quick answer
What does “self-revelation” mean?
The act of revealing or disclosing one's own thoughts, feelings, or character, often unintentionally.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of revealing or disclosing one's own thoughts, feelings, or character, often unintentionally.
A process or instance where one's true nature, motives, or inner self becomes apparent, either through deliberate sharing or unconscious expression.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant orthographic or usage differences; the hyphenated form is standard in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more literary/philosophical in UK English; can be used in psychological/self-help contexts in US English.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but marginally more common in UK literary criticism.
Grammar
How to Use “self-revelation” in a Sentence
[verb] + self-revelation (e.g., 'lead to', 'result in', 'involve')[adjective] + self-revelation (e.g., 'startling', 'unconscious')self-revelation + [preposition] + [noun] (e.g., 'of character', 'about his past')Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “self-revelation” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The memoir self-reveals with startling honesty.
American English
- The therapy session prompted him to self-reveal more than he intended.
adverb
British English
- He spoke self-revelatorily about his fears.
American English
- She wrote self-revelatorily in her journal.
adjective
British English
- Her self-revelatory style made the biography compelling.
American English
- The book's self-revelatory passages resonated deeply.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in leadership/coaching contexts about personal development.
Academic
Common in literary analysis, psychology, philosophy, and autobiography studies.
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation; used in more reflective or intellectual discussions.
Technical
Used in psychotherapy and narrative therapy as a technical term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “self-revelation”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “self-revelation”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “self-revelation”
- Misspelling as 'selfrevelation' (missing hyphen).
- Confusing with 'revelation' which can be about anything, not necessarily the self.
- Using in overly casual contexts where 'sharing' would be more natural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can be unintentional, as when someone's true feelings are revealed through their actions or art.
'Confession' implies admitting to a fault or secret, often with a sense of guilt. 'Self-revelation' is broader, covering any disclosure of the inner self, not necessarily negative.
Yes, the standard form is hyphenated, as 'self-' is a prefix attached to a noun.
No, it's a mid-to-low frequency word used primarily in formal, literary, or academic contexts. Simpler words like 'honesty' or 'sharing' are more common in everyday language.
The act of revealing or disclosing one's own thoughts, feelings, or character, often unintentionally.
Self-revelation is usually formal, literary, academic in register.
Self-revelation: in British English it is pronounced /ˌself ˌrev.əˈleɪ.ʃən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌself ˌrev.əˈleɪ.ʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not commonly found in idioms; the word itself is concept-heavy.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: REVEAL-ing your SELF. A SELF-REVELATION is like a personal REVELATION.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE SELF IS A HIDDEN TEXT (to be read/deciphered/uncovered).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'self-revelation' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?