Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

selfishness

/ˈsɛl.fɪʃ.nəs/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.22 in modern English

Syllables: self-ish-ness
IPA: /ˈsɛl.fɪʃ.nəs/

17

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The quality of being selfish, the condition of putting one's own interests before those of others.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"This common faith or set of aspirations, he added, could also help Americans transcend their selfishnesses and follies and promote a world civil religion given to justice and hope."
"And he knows that Patrick can afford to complain about his mother’s minor selfishness but he cannot afford to engage with the idea of his own father at all."

Etymology

Etymology tree English selfish Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English selfishness From selfish + -ness.

Usage

Inflected Forms

selfishnesses (plural)

Phrases

rational selfishness self-interest

Frequently Paired Words

autocentrism self-interest selfish greed

Synonyms

egocentricity me-firstism self-centeredness egoism egomism hoggery interestedness philauty porkishness selfhood selfishness self-absorption

Antonyms

selflessness self-abnegation

Questions

How do you pronounce selfishness?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈsɛl.fɪʃ.nəs/.
What does selfishness mean?: The quality of being selfish, the condition of putting one's own interests before those of others.
Where does selfishness come from?: Etymology tree English selfish Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English selfishness From selfish + -ness.

How to pronounce selfishness

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