self-improvement
nounEtymology From self- + improvement.
1
The following of a disciplined programme to improve one's physical health, mental health or character.
- He believes that self-improvement and its growing popularity are symptoms of what he calls individualism.2019 May 2, Nina Avramova, “When you should use self-help programs and when to skip them”, in CNN, archived from the original on 13 Jun 2025:
2
The bettering of one's status.
- 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".1944 May and June, Arthur B. Longbottom, “The Derby Railway Institute”, in Railway Magazine, page 149:
- Ambition and self-improvement are certainly not negatives, although one potential downside to being more self-conscious—especially for punk bands—is muted urgency.2017 January 20, Annie Zaleski, “AFI sounds refreshed and rejuvenated on its 10th album, AFI (The Blood Album)”, in The Onion AV Club, archived from the original on 07 Oct 2018:
- Synonyms
- self-help
- Derived terms
- self-improve, self-improving
- Hypernyms
- improvement