self-select
verb
self-se·lect ˌself-sə-ˈlekt 
self-selected; self-selecting; self-selects
1
transitive : to select (something) by or for oneself
People tend to self-select the environments that fit their needs.—
Cynthia M. Allen
Cynthia M. Allen
2
intransitive : to select oneself as opposed to being selected
especially : to opt in or out of something (such as a group, activity, or category) in accordance with one's personality, interests, etc.
As always, remember that our Twitter polls are unscientific, because respondents self-select … —Eric C. Evarts
Eric C. Evarts
We self-select into partisan echo chambers, staying far away from dissenting voices on social media and cable news. —Brian Klaas
Brian Klaas
… a compensation structure that rewards profitable growth and encourages low performers to self-select out of the organization. —Patrick Burke
Patrick Burke
3
intransitive : to attract or involve individuals who tend to have a particular characteristic
… analysis of social-media responses self-selects for people who actually want to share their thoughts.—Adrian Lee
Adrian Lee
self-selected
adjective
a self-selected name
an unrepresentative, self-selected sampling
self-selection
noun
plural self-selections
student self-selection of reading materials
self-selection of survey respondents
The method helped researchers rule out self-selection bias, or the possibility that people who seek out dental care are different—perhaps healthier in general—than those who don't. —Sarah Yang
Sarah Yang
Examples of self-select in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Just like the pinto beans in the jar, the self-selecting audience at CPAC probably doesn’t represent the broader movement. —Rob Crilly, The Washington Examiner, 30 Mar. 2026 Given scheduling constraints and crew and equipment limitations, the lead service line program may not be able to accommodate every self-selecting property this fiscal year. —Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026 Industry analysts note that audience scores can run unusually high for films with a motivated, self-selecting fan base — especially when viewers are buying tickets with a point to prove. —Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Feb. 2026 On my Svalbard sailing, there were a variety of options—hikes, walks, and beach exploration—with guests able to self-select among strenuous, moderate, or easy options. —Kristen E. Pope, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2025 Both are declarations of community, however self-selected. —Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 3 Nov. 2025 Advertisement Of course, people who voluntarily go through a haunted house are a self-selecting group, and trauma can occur when someone is subjected to something against their will or pushed past a limit. —Delaney Rebernik, Time, 27 Oct. 2025 Autonomy suggests that an agent will be able to self-select when to get involved (almost like intuition) and take action without human input or interaction. —Jason Andersen, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025 Nixing screens for everyone on campus, and not just those who self-select into antitech organizations, could change campus communities for the better—we’ve already seen the transformative impact of initiatives like these at the high-school level. —Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 11 Sep. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Rob Crilly, The Washington Examiner, 30 Mar. 2026 Given scheduling constraints and crew and equipment limitations, the lead service line program may not be able to accommodate every self-selecting property this fiscal year. —Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026 Industry analysts note that audience scores can run unusually high for films with a motivated, self-selecting fan base — especially when viewers are buying tickets with a point to prove. —Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Feb. 2026 On my Svalbard sailing, there were a variety of options—hikes, walks, and beach exploration—with guests able to self-select among strenuous, moderate, or easy options. —Kristen E. Pope, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2025 Both are declarations of community, however self-selected. —Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 3 Nov. 2025 Advertisement Of course, people who voluntarily go through a haunted house are a self-selecting group, and trauma can occur when someone is subjected to something against their will or pushed past a limit. —Delaney Rebernik, Time, 27 Oct. 2025 Autonomy suggests that an agent will be able to self-select when to get involved (almost like intuition) and take action without human input or interaction. —Jason Andersen, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025 Nixing screens for everyone on campus, and not just those who self-select into antitech organizations, could change campus communities for the better—we’ve already seen the transformative impact of initiatives like these at the high-school level. —Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-select.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/self-select. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
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