narcissism
Americannoun
-
inordinate fascination with oneself; excessive self-love; vanity.
- Synonyms:
- egocentrism, smugness
-
Psychiatry. narcissistic personality disorder.
-
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.
noun
-
an exceptional interest in or admiration for oneself, esp one's physical appearance
-
sexual satisfaction derived from contemplation of one's own physical or mental endowments
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing narcissism
Power Suffix: -ism
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Reading: Literature - Mythology - Middle School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Ancient Greece: Mythology and Literature - Middle School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
But others have a more mixed record, and one can see how their bullying and narcissism might have served them.
From Slate • Nov. 4, 2025
Professional narcissism is by no means confined to academia.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
