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.

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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

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

From Slate ● Jul. 13, 2026

She argued that "one person's phone going off shatters that for everybody" and so disrupting the experience is "an act of extreme selfishness".

From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2026

“First of all, I’ve served this party for a long time. I don’t do it out of selfishness, by any means,” she said at a Saturday gathering where she provided breakfast burritos to delegates.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 21, 2026

Not worrying about what others think of you reveals a selfishness, a lack of empathy, a disrespect for your professional environment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 16, 2026

In his absolute selfishness, his incapacity to give anything away, no matter what, he is a successful committee.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas

Related Words

• greed
• self-indulgence