selfhood: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (Very Low Frequency / Academic)Formal, Academic, Literary, Philosophical, Psychological
Quick answer
What does “selfhood” mean?
The quality or state of being an individual person.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The quality or state of being an individual person; a distinct individual personality or identity.
The conscious recognition or awareness of one's own identity, personality, and individuality, often in philosophical or psychological contexts concerning the nature of the self.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is consistent.
Connotations
Consistently carries a formal, abstract, and somewhat introspective connotation in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialised in both British and American English.
Grammar
How to Use “selfhood” in a Sentence
the selfhood of [person/group]a sense of selfhoodto develop/assert/lose one's selfhoodVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in leadership or personal development contexts, e.g., 'The executive retreat focused on authentic leadership and professional selfhood.'
Academic
Common in psychology, philosophy, literature, and sociology. E.g., 'The study examines the construction of selfhood in postmodern narratives.'
Everyday
Very rare. Would sound formal or pretentious. More likely replaced by 'sense of self' or 'identity'.
Technical
Used in philosophical discourse (e.g., phenomenology), developmental psychology, and certain literary theories.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “selfhood”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “selfhood”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “selfhood”
- Using it as a countable noun (*a selfhood). It is generally uncountable.
- Using it in casual conversation where 'personality' or 'identity' would be more natural.
- Confusing it with 'self-esteem' or 'self-confidence', which are different concepts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, not exactly. 'Personality' refers to the combination of characteristics that form an individual's distinctive character. 'Selfhood' is a more fundamental, philosophical concept referring to the state or quality of being a distinct, conscious self. Personality is one aspect that contributes to selfhood.
It is strongly discouraged for everyday use as it sounds very formal and academic. In casual speech, use phrases like 'sense of self', 'who I am', or simply 'identity' instead.
Almost always uncountable. You do not say 'a selfhood' or 'selfhoods'. You refer to 'her selfhood', 'the concept of selfhood', or 'a loss of selfhood'.
It is a key term in philosophy (especially phenomenology and existentialism), psychology (developmental and clinical), and literary theory. It is used to discuss the nature, origin, and experience of being a conscious individual.
The quality or state of being an individual person.
Selfhood is usually formal, academic, literary, philosophical, psychological in register.
Selfhood: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɛlfhʊd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɛlfhʊd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A crisis of selfhood”
- “To come into one's selfhood”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of SELFHOOD as the 'HOOD' or state/condition of being your true SELF. Just like 'childhood' is the state of being a child.
Conceptual Metaphor
SELFHOOD IS A CONTAINER (contains our identity); SELFHOOD IS A JOURNEY (development over time); SELFHOOD IS A FRAGILE OBJECT (can be lost or damaged).
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts is the word 'selfhood' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?