egoism

American  

[ee-goh-iz-uhm, eg-oh-] / ˈi goʊˌɪz əm, ˈɛg oʊ- /

noun

1. the habit of valuing everything only in reference to one's personal interest; selfishness (altruism ).

2. egotism or conceit.

3. Ethics. the view that morality ultimately rests on self-interest.

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egoism British  

/ ˈiːɡəʊˌɪzəm, ˈɛɡ- /

noun

1. concern for one's own interests and welfare

2. ethics the theory that the pursuit of one's own welfare is the highest good Compare altruism

3. self-centredness; egotism

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Related Words

See egotism.

Other Word Forms

• antiegoism noun

Etymology

Origin of egoism

First recorded in 1775–85; from French égoïsme, from New Latin egoismus, equivalent to ego ego ( def. ) + -ismus -ism ( def. )

Example Sentences

“I think that in the dynamic of multilateral diplomacy, we need to avoid egoism, egoism of the north towards the south.”

From Washington Times • Dec. 9, 2023

Such mythmaking adds to the public's belief in the possibility of the American dream and the praiseworthy egoism of genius.

From Salon • Sep. 12, 2023

Secretary-General António Guterres said on Monday the "egoism" of some nations was hampering efforts to seal a long-awaited treaty to protect the world's oceans.

From Reuters • Jun. 27, 2022

It’s a mistake to think that giving special weight to your own interests and concerns is egoism; egoism is giving them more weight than they merit.

From New York Times • Jul. 6, 2021

The existence of the latter is necessarily dependent upon the mutual relations of the members of the community and the sacrifices which these make to the whole society at the cost of their own egoism.

From A Review of the Systems of Ethics Founded on the Theory of Evolution by Williams, C. M.