self-understanding

noun

self-un·der·stand·ing ˌself-ˌən-dər-ˈstan-diŋ

plural self-understandings

: understanding of oneself: such as

: knowledge or understanding of one's own capabilities, character, feelings, or motivations : self-knowledge

human self-understanding

gaining a greater sense of self-understanding

… while I can't choose what I feel, I do have sway over how I understand my feelings and that self-understanding can modify and sculpt those feelings …—

Gordon Marino

: one's conception of oneself especially as part of a group

Central to our national self-understanding is the idea that hard work pays off.—

Las Vegas Sun

… the attempt to put religion into a box fails to give adequate regard to the self-understanding of those religious groups …—

Eduardo M. Penalver

… the studies … show that adoptive parents play an important role in supporting their children's ethnic and cultural self-understanding.—

Anndee Hochman

… people should be free to reach their own self-understandings when it comes their status as victims (or non-victims).—

Brian D. Earp

Examples of self-understanding 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.

The representatives of communication and self-understanding both love your big ol’ boss planet. —

Jennifer Culp, Them, 4 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1608, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of self-understanding was in 1608

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Self-understanding.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-understanding. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

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