# narcissism

/ˈnɑɹsɪˌsɪzəm/ (US) · /nˈɑːsɪsˌɪzəm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/narcissism
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. self-centeredness

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the habit of thinking too much about yourself and wanting others to admire you.

For teachers: an excessive interest in or admiration of oneself and one's physical appearance; in psychology, it involves an inflated sense of self-importance.

- His narcissism made it hard for him to listen to anyone else's problems.
- The politician's narcissism was evident in his constant need for public validation and his inability to accept even constructive criticism.

Usage: Usually uncountable; often used to describe a personality flaw rather than a clinical diagnosis in casual conversation.

Teaching tip: While used casually to mean 'vanity', in academic or medical contexts it refers to a specific personality disorder (NPD).

### 2. sexual self-attraction

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

feeling sexual attraction toward your own body.

For teachers: erotic gratification derived from admiration of one's own physical attributes.

- In some early psychology books, narcissism was described as a type of sexual attraction to oneself.
- The original psychoanalytic definition of narcissism focused on the redirection of the libido toward the subject's own body.

Usage: Primarily found in psychoanalytic literature.

Teaching tip: This is a very specialized sense. Most modern learners will only encounter the 'self-centered' meaning.

## Examples

- His constant mirror-checking was a sign of his narcissism.
- Social media platforms are often criticized for encouraging narcissism by rewarding users for constant self-promotion.
- While a healthy level of self-regard is necessary for confidence, pathological narcissism involves a fragile ego that requires constant external validation to maintain its sense of superiority.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.