Word
selfishness
Phoneticsself·ish·ness, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɛɫfɪʃnəs/
UK/sˈɛlfɪʃnəs/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the habit of thinking only about yourself and what you want. You show this when you do not care about the needs or feelings of other people.
n. the quality or state of being concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself. Refers to a lack of consideration for others regardless of their needs or interests.
Examples
“His selfishness made it hard for him to keep friends.”
“The team's failure was largely due to the selfishness of a few players who refused to pass the ball.”
“Philosophers often debate whether true altruism exists or if every human action is ultimately rooted in some form of psychological selfishness.”
Examples
simple
“His selfishness made it hard for him to keep friends.”
contextual
“The team's failure was largely due to the selfishness of a few players who refused to pass the ball.”
complex
“Philosophers often debate whether true altruism exists or if every human action is ultimately rooted in some form of psychological selfishness.”
Usage
Typically functions as an abstract noun and does not take a plural form.
Real-World Examples
“This is healthy development, rather than selfishness, but it means they may struggle to understand someone else's point of view —particularly if they're upset .” “In a team game, it was an act of selfishness but sometimes they are the most satisfying, and Manchester United celebrated the single-mindedness when the ball rippled the inside of the netting.” Etymology
From selfish + -ness.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/selfishness