Meaning & use
self-actualization
The process of realizing and fulfilling one's own talents and potential, especially as the highest human psychological need.
See it in a sentence
According to Maslow, people pursue self-actualization only after their basic needs for safety and belonging are met.
Learning to paint later in life gave her a deep sense of self-actualization.
A note on using this word
The term comes from Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs, where it sits above esteem and belonging.
Words with a similar meaning
self-fulfillment
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
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