self-reference

noun

self-ref·er·ence ˌself-ˈre-f(ə-)rən(t)s

-ˈre-fərn(t)s

plural self-references

: the act or an instance of referring or alluding to oneself or itself

… their discourse can become dominated by words expressing confidence, like … self-reference that can favour the "royal we" over "I."—

Peter Garrard

The conventional wisdom was that sitcoms should hit the reset button every week, so as not to confuse or alienate nonregular viewers. But Seinfeld's obsessive self-references earned it the loyal audience that was key to its success …—

Daniel Bettridge

specifically : reference or allusion by a literary or artistic work to the mental attitudes and creative processes that brought it into existence

Such dumbly resistant objects might seem like arid exercises in postmodern self-reference—photographs about photography, as it were … —

Andrew Graham-Dixon

self-referential

ˌself-ˌre-fə-ˈren(t)-shəl

adjective

Also, Lady Gaga's self-referential comment about wardrobe came off way too hammy … —

Mike Ryan

There's a lot of silly fourth wall breaking, sarcasm and self-referential comedy … —

Patrick Doyle

self-referentiality

ˌself-ˌre-fə-ˌren(t)-shē-ˈa-lə-tē

noun

… the pretentious and tiresome self-referentiality (as in "Author here. Meaning the real author …") —

Stephen Marche

Examples of self-reference 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.

Politics aside, Michaels will always support nostalgia, self-reference, and casting his friends. —

Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2024 After a commercial break, Meyers touched on the debate’s relevance with a self-reference to his primetime slot. —

Zoe G. Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019 Related Articles As a natural choice for the modern-day explorer, the Captain Cook collection self-references the original Rado dive watches. —

Fairchild Studio, WWD, 2 Aug. 2024 These self-references are used as flavor beats, and Part Two never explores The Jinx’s role in the story further. —

Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 26 May 2024 Courtesy of Tiffany & Co. But despite his history with the brand, Williams didn’t self-reference, at least not too literally. —

José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 3 May 2024 Assayas devotees will take some pleasure in its formal fillips and self-references. —

Guy Lodge, Variety, 17 Feb. 2024 The revival leans into such meta-moments, which lean away from the movie and into a wonderland of Broadway self-reference. —

Jesse Green, New York Times, 16 Nov. 2023 The humorous self-references bolster the heroines’ believability. —

Dallas News, 22 Feb. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of self-reference was in 1818

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Self-reference.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-reference. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

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