# selfish

/ˈsɛɫfɪʃ/ (US) · /sˈɛlfɪʃ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/selfish
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. caring only about oneself

adjective · CEFR B1

thinking only about your own needs and not caring about other people.

For teachers: 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'.

### 2. evolutionary biology

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical · Academic

describes a gene that acts to copy itself, even if it does not help the individual animal or plant.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. video games

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

describes a character that works well on their own and does not need help from a team.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- It was selfish of him to eat all the cake.
- The child was accused of being selfish because he refused to share his toys with his younger sister.
- The theory of the selfish gene suggests that biological evolution is driven by the survival of genetic material rather than the well-being of the individual organism or species.

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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.