What the word selfish means

To be called selfish or be known as a selfish person is not desirable. Why?

Because selfish is an adjective that describes someone who only cares about themselves and what they want. The needs of others are not as important to them as their own.

The opposite of selfish is unselfish, to be thoughtful, kind, considerate, and generous.

Although selfishness is not a good thing, surprisingly we use the word ‘selfish’ quite often. It is not uncommon to hear a parent tell their children not to be selfish and share their toys with others for example.

When used seriously, someone may be told that they are acting selfishly, for instance:

• Lydia, you are acting selfishly, the coffee in the office is for everyone not just for you. Please don’t take the coffee pot to your desk.
• Stop thinking only about yourself, why are you so selfish?

Another serious way to use this word is when speaking about another person who is not present.

• I thought Owen acted very selfish at lunch; he didn’t offer anyone else the last few slices of pizza before he took them and he had already eaten half the pizza too!
• It was selfish of Jane to assume no one else wanted to go to the party.

A more casual use of selfish is humorous or funny. Have a look at the examples below.

• I was selfish and bought a whole pizza just for myself!
• It may have been selfish of me, but I spent the afternoon at the spa getting a massage.
• I needed some me time and so selfishly went away for the weekend without my family.

Used in this form the person speaking is trying to be funny and evoke laughter from the people listening.

Although the word selfish is usually used to describe a person, we can use it to describe a company who does not like to share their products with other.

• The company acted selfishly and did not distribute any of its profits to external investors.
• That company has a reputation for being selfish and not caring about its customers.

Overall, the word selfish is either quite serious or used to be humorous. Here is a good way to remember how to use it correctly.

When speaking about someone else, selfish is a serious word, be careful that you do not offend someone by misusing this word.

If speaking about yourself then you are trying to be funny and humorously using the word.

So please don’t be selfish, share your thoughts with us by leaving a comment below! We promise always to be unselfish and share the other posts on our website too.

Last Update: Jan 03, 2023

This is a question our experts keep getting from time to time. Now, we have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested!

Asked by: Mr. Marco Satterfield Sr.

Score: 4.8/5
(5 votes)

selfish (adj.)

1630s, from self- + -ish. Said in Hacket’s life of Archbishop Williams (1693) to have been coined by Presbyterians. In the 17c., synonyms included self-seeking (1620s), self-ended and self-ful. Related: Selfishly; selfishness.

What is the root word for selfish?

Selfish combines the pronoun self-, meaning to or for yourself, with the suffix-ish, for «having the character of.» So if your actions are selfish, they all have to do with getting something for yourself, like attention, or candy, or power.

What language does the word selfish come from?

From self +‎ -ish. Compare Danish selvisk (“selfish”), Swedish självisk (“selfish”).

What is the full meaning of selfishness?

1 : concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself : seeking or concentrating on one’s own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others. 2 : arising from concern with one’s own welfare or advantage in disregard of others a selfish act.

What is selfishness in psychology?

Selfishness is the tendency to prioritize one’s own desires and needs above the needs and desires of other people.

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Last Updated:
8 Apr 2023
— Updated example sentences

Nor yet would the term selfish apply to an East End music hall audience when they eject any one who belongs to a different social class to themselves and wears good clothes. ❋ Almroth Wright (1904)

There is the word selfish, that is, being absorbed in one’s own self; in getting every stream to flow by his own door. ❋ S.D. Gordon (N/A)

Don Manuel was indignant at what he termed the selfish and unfeeling conduct of Villabuena, who would thus sacrifice his daughter’s happiness to his own pride and ambition. ❋ Various (N/A)

Now this is what I call selfish, after all, said I to myself: you will only enjoy yourself with those whose broken peace you have mended. ❋ Kuno Francke (1892)

But Calipari saw what he called «selfish» play in the first half. ❋ ROGER RUBIN (2011)

Dawkins coined the term selfish gene as a way of expressing the gene-centered view of evolution, which holds that evolution is best viewed as acting on genes, and that selection at the level of organisms or populations almost never overrides selection based on genes. ❋ EmersonWhitecp (2010)

In his first public appearance since revelations of marital infidelity caused his spectacular fall from grace, Woods apologized for what he called his selfish and irresponsible behaviour. ❋ Moneycontrol.com [email protected] (2010)

In his first public appearance since the scandal erupted, Woods apologized for what he called selfish and irresponsible behavior. ❋ Unknown (2010)

In a state of the nation address Wednesday, Medvedev lashed out against what he called selfish U.S. foreign policy and announced Moscow will set up a new missile base near the Polish border. ❋ Unknown (2008)

I don’t think the word «selfish» is even a little appropriate here. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Tom Brokaw has told us all about Rosie the Riveter, victory gardens, and bond drives, but we hear nothing about the workers in defense plants who went on strike—and were called selfish, unpatriotic, and even traitorous. ❋ Thaddeus Russell (2010)

Because you are stupid and wrong and just plain selfish and ignorant. ❋ Unknown (2009)

So vegetarianism makes a great deal of sense in selfish, anthropocentric terms. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Even if people remain selfish, bringing the economy under the control of a democratic government could still greatly improve the lot of the working class. ❋ Unknown (2010)

Even if people remain selfish, bringing the economy under the control of a democratic government could still greatly improve the lot of the common people. ❋ Unknown (2010)

Even before I turned thirteen, I fantasized about my twenties, imagining myself breaking free from the confines of my seafoam green bedroom, my future accomplishments sure indicators that the hushed conversations where I was referred to as selfish, lazy, and ungrateful for forgetting to put away the dishes were completely unfounded. ❋ Casey McGrath (2011)

Sometimes you can finesse that limitation by having your characters think and act in selfish, st upid or potentially harmful ways around the concept or object that you want your reader to focus on. ❋ Scott Adams (2010)

He was just plain selfish and he should do what he recommended others in the same situation to do, period .. ❋ Unknown (2009)

This is just plain selfish and lack of concern for our american family. ❋ Unknown (2009)

I [dived] deep near [the coral] with a chunk of salami stuck in my hear, waited, and as the [piranha] approach and opened her jaws for a bite, i took the picture. That’s how i one first price in the selfish contest! ❋ Turkishcoffe (2014)

Person 1: hey stop being selfish and [give me some] of your money!
Person 2: you’re telling me to not be human. by the way, [i believe] that i deserve to keep this money because i worked for it and you [stood] home on your ass watching reruns of Friends. i dont need to give you anything.
Person 1: ……. fuck you. ❋ Think Outside The Box (2006)

A: «I’m getting my [appendectomy] tomorrow. I need to save this money for copay.»
B: «How could you be so selfish? [Spending money] on «necessary operations» [left and right], and meanwhile my wife and I can’t pay the television bill. I can’t believe you could be so — »
A: «Get the fuck out.»
B: «But I need — »
A: «OUT.» ❋ Arthritis (2009)

«[I am not] selfish.» ❋ Bhebb (2008)

Frenchwoman: Hey, American, why are you taxing my beef unfairly?
Yank #1: You mean me, or just my government? Because I don’t remember ever having signed a [tariff] on French agricultual products that I happen to disagree with.
Frenchwoman: …never mind.
Dutchman: You Americans, you’re all such [puritans]!
Yank#2: Are we ALL puritans? I mean, how can you call me a puritan while I’m smoking a joint in an Amsterdam strip club.
Dutchman: Uhhh…
Brit: You Americans are all so selfish! Why did you give so little aid after the tsunami last December?
Yank #3: Are we truly ALL selfish? Because I just mailed a check to Oxfam, in addition to another I gave to [Doctors Without Borders] last week, and the one to the Red Cross on December 27.
Brit: …okay, fine. Not ALL Americans are like that. ❋ Anti Anti-Yankee (2005)

If [Desi] was having a [contest] for her followers on [snapchat] saying how she’ll give away a huge makeups bag if you comment on her video about how selfish you are. & you want to prove everyone how you’re the most selfish because you want it all for yourself. ❋ Selfish Queen (2015)

My [younger brother] is a selfish faggot who never [learns] what [sharing] is. ❋ Cxlvxns (2020)

Amercians are some [fat-ass] selfish gimps. ❋ Anti-yankee (2005)

[Lane] was selfish when he went home to play with his new [dog], instead of [being there] for his sad friend and getting drunk with him. ❋ Crease Meech (2016)

[Jenny] [just] [took] a selfish ❋ Hayday_73 (2014)