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. )

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Compare meaning

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

• self-interest vs. selfishness

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

selfishness

It helps you draw boundaries without being held hostage to accusations of selfishness.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026

A reference for our time is Judge Richard Posner’s 1995 book, “Aging and Old Age,” with its frank discussion of the relationship between shortened time horizons in the elderly and unchecked selfishness.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 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

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

From Salon ● Apr. 23, 2026

In the morning, his mother would venture downstairs to lecture him on the evils of selfishness and bad language.

From "Ralph S. Mouse" by Beverly Cleary

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Related Words

• greed
• self-indulgence

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