somebodiness

Etymology

From somebody + -ness.

somebodiness means the quality of being somebody who matters; a sense of self-worth or personal validation. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 87 out of 100.

Why “somebodiness” is a great word

SOMEBODINESS — [Noun] The state of being a person of recognized significance, characterized by inherent dignity and a validated sense of self-worth. From 'somebody' (a person of importance) + the noun-forming suffix '-ness' (state, quality). Coined in 1967 by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unlike "self-esteem" (an internal, private appraisal) or "anonymity" (the condition of being unknown), somebodiness is a social condition of mattering—a status conferred and confirmed by the world. It is the straightening of a spine when addressed with respect, the weight of a name spoken clearly at a roll call, the profound shift from being a case file to being called by name. It is the quiet revolution of being a subject, and never merely an object.

noun

The quality of being somebody who matters; a sense of self-worth or personal validation.