ego

[ee-goh, eg-oh]

noun

plural

egos 

1. the “I” or self of any person; a person as thinking, feeling, and willing, and distinguishing itself from the selves of others and from objects of its thought.

2. Psychoanalysis.,  the part of the psychic apparatus that experiences and reacts to the outside world and thus mediates between the primitive drives of the id and the demands of the social and physical environment.

3. egotism; conceit; self-importance.

   Her ego becomes more unbearable each day.

4. self-esteem or self-image; feelings.

   Your criticism wounded his ego.

5. (often initial capital letter)

   1. the enduring and conscious element that knows experience.

   2. Scholasticism.,  the complete person comprising both body and soul.

6. Ethnology.,  a person who serves as the central reference point in the study of organizational and kinship relationships.

ego

/ ˈɛɡəʊ, ˈiːɡəʊ /

noun

1. the self of an individual person; the conscious subject

2. psychoanal the conscious mind, based on perception of the environment from birth onwards: responsible for modifying the antisocial instincts of the id and itself modified by the conscience (superego)

3. one's image of oneself; morale

   to boost one's ego

4. egotism; conceit

ego

1. The “I” or self of any person (ego is Latin for “I”). In psychological terms, the ego is the part of the psyche that experiences the outside world and reacts to it, coming between the primitive drives of the id and the demands of the social environment, represented by the superego.

The term ego is often used to mean personal pride and self-absorption: “Losing at chess doesn't do much for my ego.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of ego¹

First recorded in 1780–90; from Latin: “I”; psychoanalytic term is translation of German (das) Ich “(the) I”

Word History and Origins

Origin of ego¹

C19: from Latin: I

Example Sentences

Despite bruised egos, the buyers and sellers returned.

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Paul reportedly abused alcohol as a teenager and young adult, and his friends have said they called his intoxicated alter ego “Timmy” because his behavior changed significantly when he was drinking.

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Not too long after that, Keaton flew across the country to New York where several things happened in short succession that would have puffed up anyone else’s ego.

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The attorney general does much better with that other mean girl skill: Flattering the egos of dim but powerful men.

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The jingoistic propaganda haloing “Top Gun: Maverick” puffed up an American ego deflated by the pandemic.

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Related Words

• character 
• psyche