1
: concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself : seeking or concentrating on one's own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others
2
: arising from concern with one's own welfare or advantage in disregard of others
a selfish act
3
: being an actively replicating repetitive sequence of nucleic acid that serves no known function
selfish DNA
also
: being genetic material solely concerned with its own replication
selfish genes
Synonyms
Examples of selfish in a Sentence
She's interested only in her own selfish concerns.
I wish he'd spend less time with his friends and more time with me. Am I being selfish?
Recent Examples on the Web
There is nothing selfish about wanting to keep yourself safe and protected before all else.
—
Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Nov. 2024
During the show’s run, Kevin was sometimes considered selfish and immature, especially when compared to some of the gentler members of the Pearson clan.
—Toria Sheffield, People.com, 28 Oct. 2024
Those against say the bar for what constitutes familial trauma has become too low, and that some kids who cut off all contact are being selfish.
—Jeanette Tran, The Conversation, 23 Oct. 2024
People can be good and bad at the same time, selfish and selfless, depending on circumstances.
—Naomi Oreskes, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for selfish 
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Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Nov. 2024
During the show’s run, Kevin was sometimes considered selfish and immature, especially when compared to some of the gentler members of the Pearson clan.
—Toria Sheffield, People.com, 28 Oct. 2024
Those against say the bar for what constitutes familial trauma has become too low, and that some kids who cut off all contact are being selfish.
—Jeanette Tran, The Conversation, 23 Oct. 2024
People can be good and bad at the same time, selfish and selfless, depending on circumstances.
—Naomi Oreskes, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for selfish
Dictionary Entries Near selfish
Cite this Entry
“Selfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/selfish. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
selfish
adjective
self·ish
ˈsel-fish 
: taking care of oneself without thought for others
selfishly
adverb
selfishness
noun
Medical Definition
selfish
adjective
self·ish
ˈsel-fish
: being an actively replicating repetitive sequence of nucleic acid that serves no known function
selfish DNA
also
: being genetic material solely concerned with its own replication
selfish genes
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