egoism

[ ee-goh-iz-uhm, eg-oh- ]
See synonyms for: egoismegoisms on Thesaurus.com

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

  2. egotism or conceit.

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

Origin of egoism

1
First recorded in 1775–85; from French égoïsme, from New Latin egoismus, equivalent to ego ego + -ismus -ism

synonym study For egoism

1. See egotism.

Other words from egoism

  • an·ti·e·go·ism, noun

Words that may be confused with egoism

Words Nearby egoism

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use egoism in a sentence

  • And when, with cynical egoism, they have collected their unnumbered dollars, what do they do with them?

    American Sketches | Charles Whibley

British Dictionary definitions for egoism

egoism

/ (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

  1. self-centredness; egotism

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012