selfish

[sel-fish]

adjective

1. devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others.

   Synonyms: stingy, parsimonious, illiberal, egoistic, self-seeking, self-interested

2. characterized by or manifesting concern or care only for oneself.

   selfish motives.

selfish

/ ˈsɛlfɪʃ /

adjective

1. chiefly concerned with one's own interest, advantage, etc, esp to the total exclusion of the interests of others

2. relating to or characterized by self-interest

Other Word Forms

• selfishly adverb
• selfishness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of selfish¹

First recorded in 1630–40; self + -ish ¹

Example Sentences

Prosecutors argued that Lee's was "a selfish act to free herself from the burden of parenting alone".

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And the timing and manner in which he left made him appear selfish.

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I’m acutely aware that I sound just as selfish as Tano at this point, but I don’t care.

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Spoiled, rude, and selfish was precisely what these children were.

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The con artists would love to trick her out of the giant stone, not for selfish reasons, but to return it to The People.

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Related Words

• egotistical www.thesaurus.com
• greedy 
• narcissistic 
• self-centered