Self-possession

noun

noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A confidence in one's own powers. idiomatic, uncountable
  2. 2
    the trait of resolutely controlling your own behavior wordnet
  3. 3
    Calmness and composure, especially when under stress. idiomatic, uncountable

    "She had a very fresh complexion and a pretty, round little face saved from any dolliness by the steadiness of her blue eyes, the firmness of her mouth, and the expression of quiet self-possession."

Example

More examples

"She had a very fresh complexion and a pretty, round little face saved from any dolliness by the steadiness of her blue eyes, the firmness of her mouth, and the expression of quiet self-possession."

Etymology

From self- + possession.

More for "self-possession"

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.