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

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

Derived Forms

• ˈselfishly, adverb
• ˈselfishness, noun

Other Words From

• self·ish·ly adverb
• self·ish·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of selfish¹

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

Example Sentences

For her postdoctoral work, Zanders focused on a particular type of dustup caused by some selfish genes — genes that propagate themselves even if it hurts the host.

From Science News

The most effective strategy was the selfish strategy where everyone tried to go as fast as possible.

From Quanta Magazine

Their response to the pandemic and this great work that pharma people are doing has reminded many of their capacities and how they can be helpful to the world—as opposed to the industry being viewed as kind of selfish and uncooperative.

From Fortune

The next day the mayor called the partiers “absolutely reckless and selfish,” and she closed the beach parking to make an example of them.

From ProPublica

I feel selfish in a sense because I’m one of the lucky ones.

From Fortune

Emetophobia tends to compromise my relationships, turning me into a selfish jerk.

From The Daily Beast

Self-marriage is the ultimate brand extension of a self-obsessed, selfish populus.

From The Daily Beast

Scrooge is still with us, not just in print but embodied in the cold hearts and selfish calculations of misanthropes everywhere.

From The Daily Beast

What should have been a moment of reckoning for a selfish, serial liar instead ended with us pitying him.

From The Daily Beast

What if an affair is a process of positive self-discovery rather than selfish carnal impulses?

From The Daily Beast

His ambition is a purely selfish one, while mine is distinctly benevolent.

From Project Gutenberg

No, no,” added Mr. Pickwick more cheerfully, “it would be selfish and ungrateful.

From Project Gutenberg

One would imagine, to hear these (p. 171) people talk, that smoking was the only selfish indulgence in the world.

From Project Gutenberg

"I fear, for my part, it is only a very selfish pleasure," he said a trifle unctuously.

From Project Gutenberg

Let no opportunity be missed of exposing the true character of the vile and selfish agitators of the Anti-corn-law league.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• egotistical
• greedy
• narcissistic
• self-centered