egocentric

[ ee-goh-sen-trik, eg-oh- ]

adjective

1. having or regarding the self or the individual as the center of all things:

   an egocentric philosophy that ignores social causes.

2. having little or no regard for interests, beliefs, or attitudes other than one's own; self-centered:

   an egocentric person; egocentric demands upon the time and patience of others.

   Synonyms: self-obsessed, self-absorbed

   Antonyms: unselfish, altruistic

noun

1. an egocentric person.

egocentric

/ ˌiːɡəʊˈsɛntrɪk; ˌɛɡ- /

adjective

1. regarding everything only in relation to oneself; self-centred; selfish
2. philosophy pertaining to a theory in which everything is considered in relation to the self

   an egocentric universe

noun

1. a self-centred person; egotist

egocentric

1. Preoccupied with one's own concerns.

Derived Forms

• ˌegocenˈtricity, noun

Other Words From

• e·go·cen·tric·i·ty [ee-goh-sen-, tris, -i-tee, eg-oh-], noun
• ego·centrism noun
• none·go·centric adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of egocentric¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; ego + -centric

Example Sentences

As decades of animated Disney movies have taught us, antagonists generally get the best musical numbers, with the freedom to be as egocentric and bombastic as, well, the Joker of the 2019 movie.

From Los Angeles Times

“Small children are very egocentric, they usually experience emotions that their parents have as having something to do with them,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

Trump’s promises to weaken U.S. relations with its allies, his egocentric approach to diplomacy and his propensity to over-hype and under-deliver would only make it easier for Beijing to realize its global ambitions.

From Los Angeles Times

In his 1941 book, The Mask of Sanity, the influential US psychiatrist Hervey Cleckley set out the personality profile of a psychopath: a superficially charming but egocentric and untrustworthy person who conceals an antisocial core.

From Scientific American

He said the first kind is egocentric, while the second is “all about adding value to other people,” including the use of “please” when making a request.

From Washington Times

Related Words

• individualistic
• narcissistic
• pompous
• self-absorbed
• self-centered
• self-serving
• selfish