she defines herself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she defines herself" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing how someone perceives or describes their own identity or characteristics. Example: "In her latest book, she defines herself as a strong advocate for social justice and equality."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

She defines herself as an escort.

Independent

Polite, sensible, modest and still only 24, she defines herself in militantly ordinary terms.

Independent

Before she sees herself as a woman, she defines herself as a watchmaker.

The New York Times

Thus she defines herself against her only equal in South African letters, JM Coetzee.

The Guardian - Books

To begin with, she defines herself almost entirely through her relationship to Scarlett.

The New York Times - Books

She defines herself through her "intense years" as a competitive swimmer.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Would she define herself as a feminist?

The Guardian - Music

She defined herself as a sensible moderate in a polarized capital and leaned heavily on endorsements from President Obama and Bill Clinton.

The Washington Post

"How low are we in the polls?" Would she define herself as a Corbyn supporter in any way?

The Guardian

More about Mary's life and the transformations as she defined herself through her art is available at http://www.carolynmcintyre.

The New York Times

By day, Turner worked in real estate and in the art world, where she defined herself by her ornate attire, never leaving her apartment without a statement toque.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "she defines herself" with stronger verbs like 'characterizes', 'identifies' or 'describes' if the context demands a more precise nuance.

Common error

Avoid using "she defines herself" in contexts where the subject's self-perception is vague or unsupported by evidence. Provide specific attributes or actions that exemplify the self-definition to ensure clarity and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she defines herself" functions as a verb phrase where 'defines' acts as a transitive verb with 'herself' as the reflexive pronoun. It expresses the action of establishing or clarifying one's own identity, as illustrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

18%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "she defines herself" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression that underscores an individual's autonomy in establishing their identity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a versatile phrase appearing in various contexts, from news reports to academic discussions. While alternatives like "she identifies herself" or "she describes herself" offer subtle differences in emphasis, the core meaning remains consistent: the subject is actively shaping her self-perception. Effective use requires providing specific attributes or actions that exemplify this self-definition to maintain clarity and credibility. Common contexts include news media and academic writing, suggesting a broad applicability and acceptance of the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she characterizes herself

Uses "characterizes" instead of "defines", focusing on describing qualities.

she identifies herself

Emphasizes the act of associating with a particular group or identity.

she describes herself

Focuses on providing a verbal account of her attributes or qualities.

she sees herself

Highlights her self-perception or how she views herself.

she understands herself

Emphasizes self-awareness and comprehension of her own nature.

she perceives herself

Focuses on how she interprets her own being or existence.

she considers herself

Highlights her opinion or judgment about her own identity.

she presents herself

Focuses on how she outwardly displays her identity to others.

she construes herself

Implies an interpretative or subjective understanding of herself.

she recognizes herself

Implies an acknowledgement of self-identity often after a period of change.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone says, "she defines herself"?

It means that the woman in question is actively portraying her identity, values, or role according to her own terms and understanding. It highlights her autonomy in shaping her self-perception.

Which is a better alternative: "she defines herself" or "she identifies herself"?

Both phrases are correct, but their implications differ slightly. "She defines herself" emphasizes the act of creating or establishing an identity, while "she identifies herself" suggests aligning with a pre-existing group or category.

How can I use "she defines herself" in a sentence?

You can use it to illustrate how a woman's actions or beliefs reflect her self-chosen identity. For example, "She defines herself as an environmental activist by dedicating her time to conservation efforts."

What's the difference between "she defines herself" and "she is defined"?

"She defines herself" indicates self-determination and agency in creating one's identity, while "she is defined" implies that others are imposing an identity upon her.