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

They like that Trump seems to get away with every mean thing he says and selfish thing he does.

From Slate

“The fault lies with Joe Biden and his selfish hold on the office, when it was obvious to everyone that he was not capable of serving another four years in the White House,” said Whit Ayres, a veteran Republican pollster, who was not working for a presidential candidate this year.

From Los Angeles Times

There is no daylight between his own selfish interests and the state’s needs, because to his mind, he is the state.

From Slate

“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

By the time Logan has served his sentence he will still be able to start a family and enjoy his life, everything that Holly can't do because of his mindless, selfish actions.

From BBC

Related Words

• egotistical
• greedy
• narcissistic
• self-centered