self-centered

American  

[self-sen-terd] / ˈsɛlfˈsɛn tərd /

especially British, self-centred

adjective

1. concerned solely or chiefly with one's own interests, welfare, etc.; engrossed in self; selfish; egotistical.

2. independent, self-sufficient.

3. centered in oneself or itself.

4. Archaic. fixed; unchanging.

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Other Word Forms

• selfcenteredness
  noun
• unself-centered
  adjective
• selfcenteredly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of self-centered

First recorded in 1670–80

Explanation

A self-centered person is excessively concerned with himself and his own needs. He's selfish. You probably know some people who always talk about themselves, make every issue about themselves, and are generally all about "Me, me, me!" People like that are self-centered: as the word suggests, they are overly centered on themselves. Self-centered people tend to ignore the needs of others and only do what's best for them. You can also call them egocentric, egoistic, and egoistical. In the seventeenth century, however, self-centered meant "fixed or stationary."

Example Sentences

All of his successes have attracted critics worried he has become too powerful, too reckless, too self-centered.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026

Of course, you probably don’t mean all boomers are self-centered.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 29, 2025

She relocates “The Seagull,” as a program note specifies and her production flamboyantly conveys, “to the self-centered Me Generation of the ’70s that followed the social upheaval of the ’60s.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 16, 2025

Bensimon ended Season 2 looking self-centered and detached, while Frankel was calm and collected.

From Salon • May 20, 2025

If I held them out because I loved him, I am still self-centered, although forgivable.

From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins

Related Words

• egocentric
• egotistical
• self-absorbed
• self-indulgent
• selfish