egoism
nounUS /ˈi.ɡoʊˌɪ.zəm/
Etymology From French égoïsme, from New Latin egoismus, from Latin ego. By surface analysis, ego + -ism.
1
The tendency to think selfishly with exclusive self-interest in mind.
2
Ethics, Human sciences, Philosophy, Sciences The belief that moral behavior should be directed toward one's self-interest only.
3
Nonstandard Egotism (tendency to talk excessively about oneself).
By confusion of the similar words
- Derived terms
- ethical egoism, panegoism, rational egoism
- Related terms
- egoist, egoistic, egoistical, ethnocentrism, misanthropy, narcissism