self-satisfaction: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal to neutral
Quick answer
What does “self-satisfaction” mean?
A feeling of being pleased with yourself, often due to achievement or a belief in your own superiority, sometimes with negative connotations of smugness.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A feeling of being pleased with yourself, often due to achievement or a belief in your own superiority, sometimes with negative connotations of smugness.
Can refer to a state of contentment derived from fulfilling one's own goals or desires, independent of external validation. In philosophy/psychology, it may denote a sense of personal completeness or fulfilment of the self.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage difference. Both varieties share the same core meaning and potential negative connotation.
Connotations
Identical in both dialects: primarily negative (smugness), though a neutral/positive sense (contentment) is theoretically possible but rare.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in British English corpus data, but the word is not common in everyday speech in either variety.
Grammar
How to Use “self-satisfaction” in a Sentence
feeling of self-satisfactionwith self-satisfactiona sense of self-satisfactionbe full of self-satisfactionwallow in self-satisfactionVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “self-satisfaction” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He seemed to self-satisfy over his minor role in the project's success.
- It's unwise to self-satisfy before the final results are confirmed.
American English
- She tends to self-satisfy after completing even a simple task.
- Don't self-satisfy; there's still more work to be done.
adverb
British English
- He smiled self-satisfiedly, knowing he had been proven right.
- She nodded self-satisfiedly as her plan unfolded perfectly.
American English
- He leaned back self-satisfiedly in his chair.
- She recounted the story self-satisfiedly, emphasizing her own cleverness.
adjective
British English
- He had a self-satisfied smirk after correcting the teacher.
- The self-satisfied committee ignored all outside feedback.
American English
- A self-satisfied tone filled his voice during the interview.
- Their self-satisfied attitude prevented necessary reforms.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Critical: 'The company's self-satisfaction after last quarter's profits led to a failure to innovate.'
Academic
Analytical: 'The study critiques the bourgeois ideology of self-satisfaction as a barrier to social progress.'
Everyday
Descriptive/Critical: 'I couldn't stand the self-satisfaction on his face after he won the argument.'
Technical
Psychological: 'While related to self-esteem, self-satisfaction is more specifically tied to evaluative judgments of one's current state or actions.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “self-satisfaction”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “self-satisfaction”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “self-satisfaction”
- Confusing it with 'self-gratification' (often physical/hedonistic).
- Using it in a positive context without signalling the intended nuance, leading to misunderstanding.
- Misspelling as 'self-satisfraction' or 'self-satisfacation'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily negative. It most often implies smugness, complacency, or excessive pride in oneself. A positive sense of 'healthy contentment' is possible but requires clear contextual cues to avoid misinterpretation.
'Satisfaction' is general pleasure from any source (job, meal, outcome). 'Self-satisfaction' is specifically pleasure directed inwardly at oneself, one's achievements, or one's qualities, and it often carries a critical tone.
The direct adjective is 'self-satisfied' (e.g., a self-satisfied smile). 'Self-satisfaction' is a noun. The adverb form is 'self-satisfiedly'.
It is extremely rare and non-standard. The typical verbal idea is expressed with phrases like 'feel self-satisfied' or 'be full of self-satisfaction'. Note: 'self-satisfy' can be misconstrued as a euphemism for masturbation.
A feeling of being pleased with yourself, often due to achievement or a belief in your own superiority, sometimes with negative connotations of smugness.
Self-satisfaction is usually formal to neutral in register.
Self-satisfaction: in British English it is pronounced /ˌself ˌsæt.ɪsˈfæk.ʃən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌself ˌsæt̬.ɪsˈfæk.ʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “rest on one's laurels (related concept)”
- “smug as a bug in a rug (related sentiment)”
- “pat oneself on the back (related action)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a cat that has just caught a mouse, sitting with a purr of SELF-SATISFACTION. It's pleased with ITSELF (SELF) and completely SATISFIED (SATISFACTION).
Conceptual Metaphor
SELF-SATISFACTION IS A CONTAINER ("full of self-satisfaction"), SELF-SATISFACTION IS AN AURA ("an air of self-satisfaction"), SELF-SATISFACTION IS A PLEASURABLE STATE ("wallow in self-satisfaction").
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'self-satisfaction' most typically (with its common negative connotation)?