egoist
egoist Lexical Profile
egoist Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A self-centered or selfish person who is preoccupied with their own interests and welfare rather than those of others.
"As a complete egoist, he rarely considered how his impulsive decisions might affect the rest of his family."
An adherent of the philosophical doctrine that self-interest is the foundation of morality or the valid end of all human actions.
"In ethics seminars, the philosophical egoist argued that every seemingly generous act is ultimately motivated by personal gain."
Word Nuance & Usage
While often used interchangeably in casual speech, traditional usage distinguishes an 'egoist' (one who acts strictly in self-interest) from an 'egotist' (one who is boastful and talks excessively about oneself).
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the late 18th century from French 'égoïste', derived from the Latin first-person pronoun 'ego' (meaning 'I') combined with the suffix '-ist'.