What does egotistical mean?
Egotistical is an adjective used to describe people — or their behaviour, writing, or speech — that is excessively centred on the self. An egotistical person habitually puts themselves first, boasts about their own achievements, dismisses others' contributions, and steers every conversation back to themselves. The word derives from the Latin pronoun ego, meaning 'I', combined with suffixes indicating a habitual disposition, so its literal sense is something like 'full of I'. It is consistently pejorative: describing someone as egotistical is a criticism, not a neutral observation, and it sits alongside near-synonyms such as conceited, narcissistic, and vain. It differs subtly from 'egotistic', a rarer variant with the same meaning, and from 'egoistic', which can also carry a technical sense in ethics and philosophy referring to self-interest as a principle. In ordinary usage, however, an egotistical colleague, author, or athlete is simply one whose self-importance is conspicuous enough to be annoying or damaging to those around them.
adjectiveExcessively self-centred or vain; tending to talk and think about oneself constantly while regarding oneself as more important than others.
- (of a person or their behaviour) Excessively conceited, self-absorbed, or full of one's own importance.
"His egotistical refusal to credit the team made him impossible to work with."
"Her egotistical monologue left no room for anyone else at the table."
"It was a talented but egotistical performance, all flourish and no collaboration."
The word comes straight from Latin 'ego' — literally 'I' — so calling someone egotistical is essentially accusing them of being made entirely of 'me'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of egotistical
Egotistical derives from the Latin pronoun ego, meaning 'I', which entered English vocabulary in words like egotism during the early 18th century. The adjective form developed from egotism by adding adjectival endings, and both egotism and its relatives ultimately trace back to that single Latin word for 'I'. Cognates sharing the same root include egoist, egocentric, and ego itself as an English borrowing.
Related word forms
How egotistical is actually used
Carries a strongly negative, disapproving connotation in both formal and informal registers; it is slightly more literary than 'selfish' but common in everyday speech.
Easily confused with egotistical
Egotistical is the adjective describing someone's character, whereas an egotist is the noun naming such a person.
Egotistical describes a person who behaves selfishly and boastfully, while egotism is the noun for that quality of excessive self-regard.