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. Allen2
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
Participants also self-selected their time interval, and outcomes were self-reported, which may introduce participant bias.
—
Allison Forsyth,
Health,
30 June 2026
The unaffiliated voters that do cast a ballot tend to be a self-selecting bunch who skew higher information and are more politically engaged.
—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
8 June 2026
The whole point is to bring the right people closer and let everyone else self-select out.
—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
The sample is not representative of the broader male population because Crisis Text Line users tend to be relatively young, with two-thirds under 35, and self-selected as more likely to reach out for help.
—
Annalisa Merelli,
STAT,
12 May 2026
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
To this self-selecting crowd, Palantir is delivering on its promises.
—
Steven Levy,
Wired News,
20 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Allison Forsyth,
Health,
30 June 2026
The unaffiliated voters that do cast a ballot tend to be a self-selecting bunch who skew higher information and are more politically engaged.
—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
8 June 2026
The whole point is to bring the right people closer and let everyone else self-select out.
—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
The sample is not representative of the broader male population because Crisis Text Line users tend to be relatively young, with two-thirds under 35, and self-selected as more likely to reach out for help.
—
Annalisa Merelli,
STAT,
12 May 2026
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
To this self-selecting crowd, Palantir is delivering on its promises.
—
Steven Levy,
Wired News,
20 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
Cite this Entry
“Self-select.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-select. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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