Selfishness: meaning, definitions and examples

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selfishness

 

[ ˈsɛlfɪʃnəs ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

negative trait

Selfishness is the quality of being concerned only with oneself and not caring about the needs or feelings of others. It is often characterized by a lack of empathy and a focus on personal gain.

Synonyms

egoism, self-absorption, self-centeredness

Examples of usage

  • His selfishness led to the downfall of the team.
  • She was blinded by her selfishness and couldn't see the harm she was causing.
  • The selfishness of the politician was evident in his disregard for the well-being of his constituents.

Translations

Translations of the word "selfishness" in other languages:

🇵🇹 egoísmo

🇮🇳 स्वार्थ

🇩🇪 Egoismus

🇮🇩 egoisme

🇺🇦 егоїзм

🇵🇱 egoizm

🇯🇵 利己主義 (りこしゅぎ)

🇫🇷 égoïsme

🇪🇸 egoísmo

🇹🇷 bencillik

🇰🇷 이기심

🇸🇦 أنانية

🇨🇿 sobectví

🇸🇰 sebecstvo

🇨🇳 自私 (zìsī)

🇸🇮 sebičnost

🇮🇸 sjálfselska

🇰🇿 өзімшілдік

🇬🇪 ეგოიზმი (egoizmi)

🇦🇿 eqoizm

🇲🇽 egoísmo

Etymology

The word 'selfishness' originated from the Old English word 'sylfisc', which meant 'selfish'. The concept of selfishness has been present throughout history, with various philosophers and thinkers discussing its implications on human behavior. It is often seen as a negative trait that can lead to conflicts and lack of cooperation in society.

See also: selfishly.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,895, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.