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egotism

[ ee-guh-tiz-uhm, eg-uh- ]
/ ˈi gəˌtɪz əm, ˈɛg ə- /
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See synonyms for: egotism / egotisms on Thesaurus.com

noun
excessive and objectionable reference to oneself in conversation or writing; conceit; boastfulness.
selfishness; self-centeredness; egoism.
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Origin of egotism

First recorded in 1705–15; Latin ego ego + -ism; -t- perhaps after despotism, idiotism2

synonym study for egotism

1. Egotism, egoism refer to preoccupation with one's ego or self. Egotism is the common word for obtrusive and excessive reference to and emphasis upon oneself and one's own importance: His egotism alienated all his friends. Egoism, a less common word, is used especially in philosophy, ethics, or metaphysics, where it emphasizes the importance of or preoccupation with self in relation to other things: sufficient egoism to understand one's central place in the universe. See also pride.

OTHER WORDS FROM egotism

an·ti·e·go·tism, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH egotism

egoism, egotism (see synonym study at the current entry)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use egotism in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for egotism

egotism
/ (ˈiːɡəˌtɪzəm, ˈɛɡə-) /

noun
an inflated sense of self-importance or superiority; self-centredness
excessive reference to oneself

Word Origin for egotism

C18: from Latin ego I + -ism
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

Cultural definitions for egotism

egotism
[ (ee-guh-tiz-uhm) ]

An excessive regard for one's own talents or achievements; conceit, self-importance; acting with only one's own interests in mind.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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