noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/ˌɔːtəʊdaɪˈdæktɪsɪzəm/
Received-Pronunciation:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
US:/ˌɔːtoʊdaɪˈdæktəsɪzəm/
1
noun
Meaning 1
self-education; self-directed learning.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: autodidaction
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: learning, education
2
noun
Meaning 2
A belief or predisposition in favor of self-directed learning.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: ism, belief
History
Etymology
From auto- + didactic + -ism, equivalent to auto- + didacticism or autodidactic + -ism.
Across languages
Translations
16 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Chinese Mandarin:
自學 /自学
(zìxué)
— self-education; self-directed learning