self-interest
Americannoun
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regard for one's own interest or advantage, especially with disregard for others.
He appears to be motivated solely by self-interest, greed, and an insatiable hunger for self-aggrandizement.
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personal interest or advantage.
It is particularly hard to understand why a group would vote against its own self-interest.
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Economics. the doctrine that acting to one’s own benefit or advantage can also result in a benefit for society at large.
Adam Smith believed that individuals pursuing rational self-interest would create wealth through efficient production and competition.
noun
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one's personal interest or advantage
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the act or an instance of pursuing one's own interest
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of self-interest
First recorded in 1640–50
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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.
But just because what’s in one’s own self-interest should become clear doesn’t mean it will—or that policymakers in the U.S. and elsewhere will heed it.
From Slate ● Oct. 8, 2026
The conflation of spirituality and naked self-interest weaves throughout “Your Mother” as both Latif and Hwan distort their religions’ beliefs to justify their actions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
But even if we ignore the self-interest of critics and assume that forward guidance was created with good intentions, it simply doesn’t work in practice.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
Political scientists commonly believe economics is the predominant political issue for most people, and they view it from the perspective of their own self-interest.
From Salon ● Jul. 5, 2026
In those days before the Thunderhead, human arrogance, self-interest, and endless infighting determined the rule of law.
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
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.
