ego

[ ee-goh, eg-oh ]

noun

, plural e·gos.

1. the “I” or self of any person; a person as thinking, feeling, and willing, and distinguishing itself from the selves of others and from objects of its thought.
2. Psychoanalysis. the part of the psychic apparatus that experiences and reacts to the outside world and thus mediates between the primitive drives of the id and the demands of the social and physical environment.
3. egotism; conceit; self-importance:

   Her ego becomes more unbearable each day.

4. self-esteem or self-image; feelings:

   Your criticism wounded his ego.

5. (often initial capital letter) Philosophy.
   1. the enduring and conscious element that knows experience.
   2. Scholasticism. the complete person comprising both body and soul.
6. Ethnology. a person who serves as the central reference point in the study of organizational and kinship relationships.

ego

/ ˈɛɡəʊ; ˈiːɡəʊ /

noun

1. the self of an individual person; the conscious subject
2. psychoanal the conscious mind, based on perception of the environment from birth onwards: responsible for modifying the antisocial instincts of the id and itself modified by the conscience (superego)
3. one's image of oneself; morale

   to boost one's ego

4. egotism; conceit

ego

1. The “I” or self of any person ( ego is Latin for “I”). In psychological terms, the ego is the part of the psyche that experiences the outside world and reacts to it, coming between the primitive drives of the id and the demands of the social environment, represented by the superego .

Notes

The term ego is often used to mean personal pride and self-absorption: “Losing at chess doesn't do much for my ego.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of ego¹

First recorded in 1780–90; from Latin: “I”; psychoanalytic term is translation of German (das) Ich “(the) I”

Word History and Origins

Origin of ego¹

C19: from Latin: I

Example Sentences

There was a “toll on my ego and my self-esteem,” she said, noting the “extremes in this business” of being either idolized or hated.

From Los Angeles Times

Zaza, Albin’s drag alter ego, may be the club’s marquee draw, but in this revival, Georges is the real superstar.

From Los Angeles Times

Trump, who revels in sadistic fantasies and disparaging his enemies with crude nicknames and descriptions and making threats against them may decide he's been vindicated and can find some comfortable way, the psychological term would be an “ego syntonic” way, to integrate this into his self-image.

From Salon

During her interview she asked him if his children were unnecessary casualties of his ego.

From BBC

He told her: "Without the war on drugs I wouldn't be here. Without my ego I probably wouldn't be here either."

From BBC

Related Words

• character
• psyche