What does selfist mean?
A selfist is someone whose thoughts and actions are overwhelmingly directed toward their own interests, needs, desires, or personal affairs. The word commonly implies more than ordinary self-interest: it suggests a person who is preoccupied with themselves and comparatively insensitive to other people or concerns. It is often used in criticism of powerful or self-centred figures, although it may also be applied more neutrally to describe someone absorbed in a personal struggle. In literary and political discussion, the term can suggest an ethical failure, since a selfist is portrayed as placing private advantage ahead of shared responsibility. However, its harshness depends on context; a characterisation based only on limited evidence may be misleading. The word is related in formation and meaning to the adjective selfish but names a person rather than directly describing a quality or action.
nounA person who is primarily concerned with their own interests, affairs, or well-being, often to the exclusion of others.
- A person who is excessively or exclusively concerned with their own interests, needs, or affairs.
"Rather than dismissing her as a selfist, he recognized that she had become preoccupied with her own survival."
"The author portrays the ambitious executive as a selfist who sees every relationship as a transaction."
"Her concern for the wider community seemed incompatible with the reputation she had earned as a selfist."
The plural is used when referring to more than one person regarded as self-centred or primarily concerned with their own interests.
"The novel portrays a society of ambitious selfists competing for status and power."
A selfist turns the spotlight inward, leaving everyone else in supporting cast.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does selfist come from?
Selfist was formed in English in the 19th century from self and the suffix -ist, which is used to denote a person characterised by a particular quality or commitment. The same productive element appears in words such as artist and optimist. Its meaning developed alongside the broader family of self-centred terms, including selfish and selflessness.
How selfist is actually used
The term is uncommon and generally carries a critical or dismissive tone. It is more pointed than simply describing someone who takes an interest in their own welfare, because it implies an excessive or exclusive concern with oneself.
Easily confused with selfist
A selfist is a person preoccupied with personal interests, whereas selfish is an adjective describing behaviour motivated primarily by self-interest.