1. having an end or purpose in itself; done or pursued for its own sake rather than for an external reward or goal
Usage: formal; often used in psychology, philosophy, and education

Examples

• Playing music for pleasure is an autotelic activity that requires no external reward.
• The researcher found that autotelic motivation leads to greater student engagement in learning.
• Hiking in nature can be an autotelic experience when done purely for enjoyment.
• Artists often pursue their craft as an autotelic endeavor, valuing the process itself.
• Flow states are typically autotelic—people become absorbed in activities for their own sake.
• Unlike extrinsic goals, autotelic pursuits are driven by internal satisfaction rather than external recognition.