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
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
According to sources, some felt the decision was selfish, but others thanked her for her longstanding contributions in person and online, and felt the way in which the situation had unfolded was very unfair to her.
—
Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 28 May 2025
Despite mixed emotions within his friend group, Reddit users were overwhelmingly on the poster's side, with many arguing that Jenna was being selfish.
—Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 24 May 2025
This means that when Saturn is in Aries, the planet is in detriment and urges us to be selfish.
—Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 21 May 2025
Above all, remember that prioritizing your career growth is not selfish.
—Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for selfish
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Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 28 May 2025
Despite mixed emotions within his friend group, Reddit users were overwhelmingly on the poster's side, with many arguing that Jenna was being selfish.
—Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 24 May 2025
This means that when Saturn is in Aries, the planet is in detriment and urges us to be selfish.
—Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 21 May 2025
Above all, remember that prioritizing your career growth is not selfish.
—Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for selfish
Cite this Entry
“Selfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/selfish. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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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