self-awareness

noun

self-aware·​ness ˌself-ə-ˈwer-nəs How to pronounce self-awareness (audio)
Synonyms of self-awarenessnext
: an awareness of one's own personality or individuality

Examples of self-awareness in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Camp Rock 3 echoes that first film by introducing wide-eyed campers on paths to self-discovery and self-awareness through music. — Allison McClain Merrill, Parents, 12 Aug. 2026 Greater self-awareness isn't simply about knowing your strengths or weaknesses. — Sharon A. Kuhn, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 One plays on the name of the crew’s hangout, Hamburger Hamlet, drawing Murphy-ish parallels between the characters and Shakespeare’s tragic personages that are so overwrought, they can’t be salvaged by self-awareness. — Judy Berman, Time, 5 Aug. 2026 For all the movie’s self-awareness, it’s filled with tenderness and humor. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for self-awareness

Word History

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-awareness was in 1876

Rhymes for self-awareness

See All Rhymes for self-awareness

Browse Nearby Words

self-aware
self-awareness
self-baptizer
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-awareness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-awareness. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

self-awareness

noun
self-aware·​ness
ˌsel-fə-ˈwa(ə)r-nəs, 
-ˈwe(ə)r-
: an awareness of one's own personality or individuality

Medical Definition

self-awareness

noun
self-aware·​ness
: an awareness of one's own personality or individuality

More from Merriam-Webster on self-awareness

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for self-awareness

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about self-awareness

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All