What does egoistic mean?
'Egoistic' is an adjective describing someone who is centered on their own interests, needs, and desires, often at the expense of others. In everyday speech it functions as a somewhat formal synonym of 'selfish' or 'self-centered': we might describe a colleague's refusal to share credit as an egoistic act, or criticize a policy as serving egoistic motives. The word also has a precise philosophical sense, referring to doctrines that treat self-interest as the foundation of morality or human behavior — ethical egoism holds that people ought to act in their own interest, while psychological egoism claims they inevitably do. Derived from the Latin 'ego', meaning 'I', it belongs to a family of terms including 'egoism', 'egoist', and 'egocentric'. Though closely related to 'egotistical', which emphasizes boastfulness, 'egoistic' focuses more narrowly on self-interested conduct, making it a useful word for discussing both personal character and moral theory.
adjectiveCentered on or concerned only with one's own interests, needs, and desires; characteristic of an egoist.
- Concerned chiefly with one's own interests and welfare; selfish.
- Relating to the philosophical doctrine of egoism, which holds that self-interest is the proper basis of action.
"His decision to keep the bonus for himself was widely seen as egoistic rather than strategic."
"She dismissed his generous offer as nothing more than an egoistic bid for attention."
"Some ethical theorists argue that even apparently altruistic acts rest on ultimately egoistic motives."
It all traces back to a single Latin word — 'ego', simply meaning 'I' — which philosophers turned into a whole theory of human motivation.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of egoistic
'Egoistic' derives from the Latin pronoun 'ego', meaning 'I'. The noun 'egoism' was coined in the early 18th century, influenced by French 'égoïsme', and the adjective followed shortly after. It shares its root with other 'ego-' words such as 'egocentric' and 'egotism', all built on that same Latin first-person pronoun.
Related word forms
How egoistic is actually used
Formal to neutral register, common in psychology, philosophy, and moral criticism. It carries a negative connotation in everyday use but is neutral when describing the philosophical doctrine of egoism.
Easily confused with egoistic
Both mean self-centered and are largely interchangeable in modern use; traditionally 'egoistic' stresses pursuit of one's own interest, while 'egotistic' suggests boastfulness and excessive talk about oneself.