Ego
/ˈiːɡoʊ/
Definitions
The part of the mind that mediates between the conscious and the unconscious and is responsible for reality testing and a sense of personal identity; self-esteem or self-importance.
/ˈiːɡoʊ/
A person's sense of self-esteem or self-importance.
Her ego was bruised after losing the competition.
💡 Simply: Your 'ego' is basically how you see yourself and how important you think you are. It's that feeling of 'me, myself, and I,' and sometimes it can get a little too big for its britches!
👶 For kids: The part of you that thinks about yourself, like how you feel and what you want.
More Examples
The project was a triumph of collaboration, with no egos involved.
It's important to keep your ego in check.
How It's Used
"Freud's theory posits the ego as the part of the mind that mediates between the conscious and the unconscious and is responsible for reality testing."
"His ego wouldn't let him admit he was wrong."
Idioms & expressions
Ego trip
An activity or behavior undertaken to boost one's own ego or sense of self-importance.
"He went on an ego trip by bragging about his accomplishments."
Ego death
A complete loss of self-identity; often experienced during a spiritual or psychedelic experience.
"Some people report experiencing ego death during meditation."
From Latin, meaning "I". Sigmund Freud adopted it to describe the part of the mind that mediates between the conscious and the unconscious and is responsible for reality testing and a sense of personal identity.
The term 'ego' gained prominence in the 20th century through the works of Sigmund Freud, becoming central to psychological discourse.
Memory tip
Think of the "I" in ego – it represents the self and your sense of identity.
Word Origin
"I, the self"