# narcissist

/ˈnɑɹsɪsɪst/ (US) · /nˈɑːsɪsˌɪst/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/narcissist
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

someone who thinks about themselves too much and admires their own appearance or abilities. You use this to describe a person who lacks care for others because they are so focused on themselves.

For teachers: a person who displays an excessive interest in or admiration of themselves. In clinical psychology, an individual with a specific personality disorder characterised by grandiosity and a profound lack of empathy.

## Examples

- My former boss was a narcissist who never listened to anyone else.
- He proved to be a complete narcissist, constantly steering every conversation back to his own achievements and ignoring his friends' problems.
- The novel's protagonist is an unrepentant narcissist whose inability to recognise the emotional needs of his family ultimately leaves him isolated in his sprawling, empty mansion.

## Usage notes

- Frequently modified by adjectives like 'malignant' or 'covert' in psychological contexts, and 'complete' or 'total' in everyday speech.

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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.