self-

UK: /ˈsɛlf-/

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

self- combining_form

1. of oneself or itself: self-defence, self-rule
2. by, to, in, due to, for, or from the self: self-employed, self-inflicted, self-respect
3. automatic or automatically: self-propelled

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

self /sɛlf/   n. and pron., pl. selves, adj. 
n. [countable]

1. a person or thing referred to apart from others:
   one's own self; the knowledge of self.
2. one's usual nature, etc.:
   his better self.
3. personal interest;
   one's own pleasure, wants, etc., without concern for others:
   always thinking of self.

pron. 

4. myself, herself, etc.:
   to make a check payable to self.

adj. 

5. being the same throughout;
   uniform.

self-, prefix. 

1. self- is attached to nouns to refer to something that one does by oneself or to oneself:
   self-control (= control of oneself);
   self-government;
   self-help.
2. self- is also attached to adjectives and nouns to refer to an action done without assistance:
   self-adhesive;
   a self-loading gun;
   self-study.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

self  (self ), n., pl. selves, adj., pron., pl. selves, v. 
n. 

1. a person or thing referred to with respect to complete individuality:
   one's own self.
2. a person's nature, character, etc.:
   his better self.
3. personal interest.
4. Philosophy
   • the ego;
     that which knows, remembers, desires, suffers, etc., as contrasted with that known, remembered, etc.
   • Philosophy the uniting principle, as a soul, underlying all subjective experience.

adj. 

5. being the same throughout, as a color;
   uniform.
6. Clothing being of one piece with or the same material as the rest:
   drapes with a self lining.
7. Immunology the natural constituents of the body, which are normally not subject to attack by components of the immune system (contrasted with nonself ).
8. [Obs.] same.

pron. 

9. myself, himself, herself, etc.:
   to make a check payable to self.

v.t., v.i. 

10. to self-pollinate.

• bef. 900; Middle English; Old English self, selfa; cognate with Dutch zelf, German selb-, Old Norse sjalfr, Gothic silba

self-, 

1. a combining form of self and variously used with the meanings "of the self '' (self-analysis) and "by oneself or itself '' (self-appointed);
   and with the meanings "to, with, toward, for, on, in oneself '' (self-complacent), "inherent in oneself or itself '' (self-explanatory), "independent'' (self-government), and "automatic'' (self-operating).