narcissism

American  

[nahr-suh-siz-em] / ˈnɑr səˌsɪz ɛm /

Also narcism

noun

1. inordinate fascination with oneself; excessive self-love; vanity.

   Synonyms:

   egocentrism, smugness

2. Psychiatry. narcissistic personality disorder.

3. Psychoanalysis. erotic gratification derived from admiration of one's own physical or mental attributes, being a normal condition at the infantile level of personality development.

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narcissism British  

/ ˈnɑːsɪˌsɪzəm, ˈnɑːˌsɪzəm /

noun

1. an exceptional interest in or admiration for oneself, esp one's physical appearance

2. sexual satisfaction derived from contemplation of one's own physical or mental endowments

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narcissism Cultural  

1. A consuming self-absorption or self-love; a type of egotism. Narcissists constantly assess their appearance, desires, feelings, and abilities.

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Other Word Forms

• narcissist noun
• narcissistic adjective
• narcist noun
• narcistic adjective
• nonnarcism noun
• nonnarcissism noun

Etymology

Origin of narcissism

First recorded in 1820–25, and in 1900–05 narcissism for def. 3; see narcissus, -ism. The psychoanalysis meaning is from the German word Narzissismus, coined in 1899 by Paul Näcke (1851–1913), German psychiatrist and criminologist

Explanation

Do you have a friend who constantly turns the conversation to themselves, as in "That's great about your winning the award but do you think these pants look good on me?" They're putting their narcissism, or excessive love of self, on display. In psychoanalysis, narcissism is erotic gratification derived from excessive love for yourself, and is considered to be a normal developmental stage. The reference is to Narcissus, a beautiful youth in Greek mythology who fell in love with his reflection in a body of water and was changed into the flower narcissus, which grows near water.

Example Sentences

His assessment came after he lamented the fact that social media algorithms punish “decency” and reward “flamboyant narcissism and controversy.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

This is history as an authoritarian exercise in narcissism.

From Salon • Mar. 2, 2026

Mr. Kline’s timing is sublime, whether he’s immersed in Richard’s narcissism or enchanting a crowd of locals with an excerpt from, again, “Hamlet.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

"It's a confused mix of ambition and narcissism, unleavened by any effort at intellectual coherence," said Bruce Jones, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026

Professional narcissism is by no means confined to academia.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Related Words

• arrogance
• self-absorption
• selfishness