1. the quality or condition of being an individual person; one’s essential being that distinguishes them from others
2. the state of having a fully developed sense of personal identity and autonomy
Usage: often used in psychology and philosophy

Examples

• The teenager struggled to establish her own selfhood separate from her parents’ expectations.
• His journey of selfhood began when he moved away from home for college.
• The novel explores themes of selfhood and personal identity in modern society.
• She felt that her selfhood was being threatened by the demands of conformity.
• The philosopher wrote extensively about the development of selfhood in children.
• Finding one’s selfhood often requires periods of solitude and reflection.
• The artist’s work reflected her quest for authentic selfhood.