self-recognition
noun
self-rec·og·ni·tion
ˌself-ˌre-kig-ˈni-shən 
-kəg-
1
: recognition of one's own self
2
: the process by which the immune system of an organism distinguishes between the body's own chemicals, cells, and tissues and those of foreign organisms and agents
Examples of self-recognition in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Research from Frontiers in Neurology and Neuroscience links susceptibility to contagious yawning with theory of mind, self-recognition and activation of brain regions associated with social cognition and empathy.
—
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Lent is a time of preparation and self-recognition prior to Easter.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Feb. 2026
Lent is a time of preparation and self-recognition prior to Easter.
—Marina Johnson, IndyStar, 20 Feb. 2026
In this sense, the NSS does not mark a departure in American statecraft so much as a moment of self-recognition.
—Alejandro Reyes, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
That hint of self-recognition winds up being heartbreaking, giving the film’s drama a certain gravity that almost works against its more old-fashioned pleasures.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
Melding the human and nonhuman realms becomes an act of self-recognition for Gander, granting a deeper understanding of himself and the setting of his birth.
—Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025
At the heart of every acting career lies a paradox: the ambition is for self-recognition; the art is of self-disappearance.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Whether or not dogs have awareness of themselves as an individual and any sort of mirror self-recognition is still up for debate.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Aug. 2025
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Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Lent is a time of preparation and self-recognition prior to Easter.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Feb. 2026
Lent is a time of preparation and self-recognition prior to Easter.
—Marina Johnson, IndyStar, 20 Feb. 2026
In this sense, the NSS does not mark a departure in American statecraft so much as a moment of self-recognition.
—Alejandro Reyes, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
That hint of self-recognition winds up being heartbreaking, giving the film’s drama a certain gravity that almost works against its more old-fashioned pleasures.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
Melding the human and nonhuman realms becomes an act of self-recognition for Gander, granting a deeper understanding of himself and the setting of his birth.
—Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025
At the heart of every acting career lies a paradox: the ambition is for self-recognition; the art is of self-disappearance.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Whether or not dogs have awareness of themselves as an individual and any sort of mirror self-recognition is still up for debate.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-recognition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-recognition. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
self-recognition
noun
self-rec·og·ni·tion
-ˌrek-əg-ˈnish-ən
: the process by which the immune system of an organism distinguishes between the body's own chemicals, cells, and tissues and those of foreign organisms or agents compare self-tolerance
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