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

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

Other Word Forms

• selfishly adverb
• selfishness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of selfish¹

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

Example Sentences

Yet the decision to take that break was attacked as selfish, egotistical and an act of betrayal.

From Los Angeles Times

He readily self-identifies as “selfish, anxious and panicky” and for some, a little of that may go a long way.

From Los Angeles Times

House Speaker Mike Johnson called Democrats "selfish", dubbed it the "Democrat shutdown", and said he would not negotiate on adding insurance subsidies – or other measures - to government funding.

From BBC

As a high school student, Heiya was vain and selfish, but she’s tested as soon as she enters the Borderlands and only ends up surviving after injuring her leg, which is amputated.

From Salon

"An adrenaline rush, an ego boost, a full sense of worth, a selfish gratification with no rewards, at cost to others. What I lost, what we have lost, cannot be found nor replaced."

From BBC

Related Words

• egotistical www.thesaurus.com
• greedy 
• narcissistic 
• self-centered