Selfish
/ˈselfɪʃ/
Definitions
Lacking consideration for others; concerned chiefly with one's own personal profit or pleasure.
/ˈselfɪʃ/
Concerned chiefly or only with one's own personal profit or pleasure.
It was selfish of him to eat all the cake without offering any to his friends.
💡 Simply: Being selfish means you're mostly thinking about yourself and what you want, without caring much about other people's feelings or needs. For example, if you eat all the cookies and don't offer any to your friends, that's selfish!
👶 For kids: Being selfish means only thinking about yourself and not sharing or caring about others.
More Examples
She made a selfish decision that benefited only herself.
His selfish attitude alienated many people.
How It's Used
"He only cares about himself; he's very selfish."
"Her selfish behavior damaged their friendship."
Idioms & expressions
Selfish gene
A concept in evolutionary biology that suggests that genes are the primary unit of selection and that organisms are simply vehicles for the genes.
"The selfish gene theory argues that genes drive behavior for their own survival."
From Middle English *selfish*, equivalent to self + -ish. The suffix '-ish' often indicates a quality or characteristic.
The term has been used for centuries to describe individuals who prioritize their own desires. It's found in moral and philosophical discussions across many periods.
Memory tip
Think of a "self-fish" – someone who only cares about their own desires, like a fish might only care about swimming in the water and eating.