Word
selfish
Phoneticsself·ish, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɛɫfɪʃ/
UK/sˈɛlfɪʃ/
Definitions
01caring only about oneself
B1 · Intermediate
adj. thinking only about your own needs and not caring about other people.
adj. characterised by or manifesting an excessive or exclusive concern for one's own advantage, pleasure, or well-being, regardless of others.
“It was selfish of him to eat all the cake without offering any to his friends.”
“The manager's selfish decision to prioritise his own bonus over the safety of the staff led to a complete breakdown in office morale.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'of' when describing an action, as in 'it was selfish of you'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02evolutionary biology
C1 · Advanced Science Technical · Academic
adj. describes a gene that acts to copy itself, even if it does not help the individual animal or plant.
adj. relating to the theory that genes act to maximise their own replication and survival across generations, often at the expense of the individual organism.
“Scientists use the term 'selfish gene' to explain why certain traits survive for millions of years.”
“The concept of the selfish gene suggests that altruistic behaviour in animals may actually be a calculated strategy for ensuring the survival of shared genetic material.”
Teaching tip
This sense is highly specific to evolutionary biology and should not be used to describe people in a scientific context unless referring to their genetic makeup.
03video games
C1 · Advanced Computing Slang · Informal
adj. describes a character that works well on their own and does not need help from a team.
adj. referring to a character or playstyle that relies on individual capabilities and resources rather than providing utility or support to teammates.
“He always picks a selfish character because he prefers to play alone rather than helping the team.”
“While the hero has high damage output, his selfish kit offers no defensive buffs to the rest of the party during boss fights.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Elements of psychology, economics and biology – not least the ideas of selfish genes and neo-Darwinism – have normalised the assumption that competition means humans are intrinsically cruel, ruthless or selfish, says Steve Taylor, a senior lecturer in psychology at Leeds Beckett University.” “The behaviour of all living things is in service of their genes hence, metaphorically, they are selfish.” “The first is that a large majority of the 1,000 people they surveyed – 74% – identifies more strongly with unselfish values than with selfish values.” “While nearly half of the American populace concurs with this sentiment, a larger segment views it as "selfish" and "unpatriotic," as revealed by a Reuters/Ipsos survey published on Tuesday.” Etymology
From self + -ish. Compare Danish selvisk (“selfish”), Swedish självisk (“selfish”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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