self-improvement

English

Etymology

From self- +‎ improvement.

Noun

self-improvement (countable and uncountable, plural self-improvements)

  1. The following of a disciplined programme to improve one's physical health, mental health or character.
    • 2019 May 2, Nina Avramova, “When you should use self-help programs and when to skip them”, in CNN[1]:
      He believes that self-improvement and its growing popularity are symptoms of what he calls individualism.
  2. The bettering of one's status.
    • 1944 May and June, Arthur B. Longbottom, “The Derby Railway Institute”, in Railway Magazine, page 149:
      In the year 1851 a small group of workmen in the Locomotive Department of the old Midland Railway Company at Derby met for self-improvement, and formed what was then known as a "reading society".
    • 2017 January 20, Annie Zaleski, “AFI sounds refreshed and rejuvenated on its 10th album, AFI (The Blood Album)”, in The Onion AV Club[2]:
      Ambition and self-improvement are certainly not negatives, although one potential downside to being more self-conscious—especially for punk bands—is muted urgency.

Synonyms

Hypernyms

Derived terms

Translations

References