selfish

[ sel-fish ]

adjective

1. devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others.

   Synonyms: self-interested, stingy, parsimonious, illiberal, egoistic, self-seeking

2. characterized by or manifesting concern or care only for oneself:

   selfish motives.

selfish

/ ˈsɛlfɪʃ /

adjective

1. chiefly concerned with one's own interest, advantage, etc, esp to the total exclusion of the interests of others
2. relating to or characterized by self-interest

Derived Forms

• ˈselfishness, noun
• ˈselfishly, adverb

Other Words From

• self·ish·ly adverb
• self·ish·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of selfish¹

First recorded in 1630–40; self + -ish ¹

Example Sentences

“I was selfish and it's only now I realise it,” he wrote.

From BBC

“Here we have yet another tragic DUI-related death that was completely preventable and born out of selfish and reckless behavior,” San Bernardino County Dist.

From Los Angeles Times

Speaking on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said Salah was "selfish" for commenting publicly about his future.

From BBC

He added: "If he keeps putting comments out, his agent puts out cryptic messages, that is selfish. That is thinking about themselves and not the football club."

From BBC

“I know it sounds selfish, and God knows I would rather have both of them, but if I had to choose,” Fails said, “I would have chosen my daughter.”

From Salon

Related Words

• egotistical
• greedy
• narcissistic
• self-centered