egomania

American  

[ee-goh-mey-nee-uh, -meyn-yuh, eg-oh-] / ˌi goʊˈmeɪ ni ə, -ˈmeɪn yə, ˌɛg oʊ- /

noun

1. psychologically abnormal egotism.

---

egomania British  

/ ˌiːɡəʊməˈnaɪɪkəl, ˌɛɡ-, ˌɛɡ-, ˌiːɡəʊˈmeɪnɪə /

noun

1. obsessive love for oneself and regard for one's own needs

2. any action dictated by this point of view

---

egomania Cultural  

1. An extreme egotism.

---

Other Word Forms

• egomaniac noun
• egomaniacal adjective

Etymology

Origin of egomania

First recorded in 1815–25; ego + -mania; modeled on monomania

Explanation

If you have an obsessive, intense love for yourself, you might have egomania. People who are diagnosed with egomania always put their own needs above those of others. Simply being vain or slightly self-absorbed isn't true egomania. People who actually suffer from egomania are out of touch with reality, having delusions of their own power and greatness, and often believe they're being persecuted or are terribly unappreciated by other people. The early 19th century word combines ego, "the self," or in Latin, I, with mania, "mental derangement," and in Greek "madness, passion, or fury."

Example Sentences

Standing athwart this mountain of egomania was Francis.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2025

Because the very traits that allowed the heel to stay on top – egomania, hubris, arrogance, lying, cheating, stealing, manipulation, bullying, and other bad behavior – are the cause of their final undoing.

From Salon • Aug. 4, 2023

And it’s clear that part of what makes this possible is McCarthy’s enthusiasm for the actual vote-counting, hand-holding work required of his position, and his lack of both Gingrichian egomania and get-me-out-of-here impatience.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 5, 2023

He referred to them as “unmasked egomania orgies” and said that most people might think twice about putting on these events right now but “most of the time he doesn’t even think once”.

From The Guardian • Oct. 15, 2020

I saw him now as he was, a victim of egomania, a worldling, tyrannical, falsely sentimental, and unfaithful steward, a liar—perhaps even an unbeliever.

From The Dweller on the Threshold by Hichens, Robert Smythe