self-taught

American  

[self-tawt] / ˈsɛlfˈtɔt /

adjective

1. having become as specified by teaching oneself, without the aid of formal education.

   She’s a self-taught photographer who sells her work online.

2. learned by oneself.

   Particularly impressive is his self-taught mastery of the guitar.

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self-taught British  

adjective

1. having learnt oneself without any external or formal instruction

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Etymology

Origin of self-taught

First recorded in 1715–25

Example Sentences

A self-taught chef has been crowned winner of the latest series of the BBC's MasterChef: The Professionals.

From BBC

He said being self-taught often led him to question his ability as a chef, but he had felt proud to stand side-by-side with fellow contestants "with my head held high".

From BBC

When Mrs. Kuen spotted our small piano and asked who played, Ma told her that I was self-taught.

From Literature

Unusually, her unique production style, full of skittering breakbeats and sugar strand melodies, is entirely self-taught.

From BBC

One night Toño is electrified by the playing of a self-taught mestizo guitarist named Lalo Molfino.

From The Wall Street Journal