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
Not because Biden was selfish and ran for reelection.
—
Ted Trimpa, The Denver Post, 12 Nov. 2024
Perhaps a record of principled work for others should outweigh a record of selfish ambition.
—Keenan Robbins, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Regardless, the making of the monster lies not in the moment of senseless cruelty but in the selfish impulses most ardently encouraged and cultivated by an unforgiving world.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2024
There is nothing selfish about wanting to keep yourself safe and protected before all else.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for selfish 
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Ted Trimpa, The Denver Post, 12 Nov. 2024
Perhaps a record of principled work for others should outweigh a record of selfish ambition.
—Keenan Robbins, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Regardless, the making of the monster lies not in the moment of senseless cruelty but in the selfish impulses most ardently encouraged and cultivated by an unforgiving world.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2024
There is nothing selfish about wanting to keep yourself safe and protected before all else.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Nov. 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 21 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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