selfishness

American  

[sel-fish-nis] / ˈsɛl fɪʃ nɪs /

noun

1. the quality or state of caring only for oneself or one’s own interests.

   The author rants at length about the selfishness and general disregard for others that he sees at the root of modern society.

---

Etymology

Origin of selfishness

selfish ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Compare meaning

How does selfishness compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• self-interest vs. selfishness

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

selfishness

He has little patience for selfishness or opportunism.

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

Or was his quest for power rooted in sheer petty selfishness?

From Slate ● Jul. 13, 2026

Our selfishness, she continues, is the reason capitalism works.

From Salon ● Apr. 23, 2026

Cerf “wasn’t afraid to tell her that he considered her philosophy of rational selfishness ‘abhorrent,’” Ms. Feldman writes, “but at the same time, he promised that if RH published her, ‘nobody’ would be a censor.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 30, 2026

Under the inmates’ surface bluster, their cruelty and selfishness, was almost always something ineffably sad.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

Related Words

• greed
• self-indulgence