DIY
n. uncountablen. Stands for do-it-yourself. The activity of decorating or repairing your home yourself instead of paying a professional to do it.
n. Abbreviation for do-it-yourself. The activity of performing home repairs, improvements, or maintenance tasks by oneself rather than employing a professional contractor, often used as a modifier before other nouns.
I spent the whole weekend doing some DIY in the kitchen.
The local hardware store is always busy on Saturday mornings with people buying supplies for their DIY projects.
While basic DIY can save homeowners a significant amount of money, complex electrical or plumbing work often requires a certified professional to ensure the building remains up to code.
Initialism of do it yourself.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Commonly used as an attributive noun to modify others, such as 'DIY store' or 'DIY enthusiast'.
Last updated May 10, 2026