self-insert
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
A character in a story who represents the author's own person.
Register: slang
Examples
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
A character in a story who the reader/viewer is meant to identify with.
Register: slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 3
An original character created by a fan to represent how they imagine themselves in a particular fictional universe.
Register: slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “self-insert” mean?
A character in a story who represents the author's own person.
Is “self-insert” formal or informal?
self-insert is generally slang.