noun
- the habit of valuing everything only in reference to one’s personal interest; selfishness (opposed to altruism).
- egotism or conceit.
- Ethics. the view that morality ultimately rests on self-interest.
noun
- concern for one’s own interests and welfare
- ethics the theory that the pursuit of one’s own welfare is the highest goodCompare altruism
- self-centredness; egotism
1785, in metaphysics (see egoist), from French égoisme (1755), from Modern Latin egoismus, from Latin ego (see ego). Meaning “self-interest” is from 1800.