selfie

noun

self·​ie ˈsel-fē 

: an image that includes oneself (often with another person or as part of a group) and is taken by oneself using a digital camera especially for posting on social networks

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What is the origin of selfie?

The first-known appearance of selfie in written form occurred in 2002 on an Australian news website, but the word didn't see much use until 2012. By November 2013, selfie was appearing frequently enough in print and electronic media that Oxford Dictionaries (publisher of the Oxford English Dictionary as well as other dictionaries) chose the word as its Word of the Year. This announcement itself led to a significant increase in the use of the word by news organizations, an increase that was further boosted following the December 2013 memorial service for Nelson Mandela, at which American President Barack Obama was caught taking a selfie with Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt and British Prime Minister David Cameron. The word selfie, with its suggestions of self-centeredness and self-involvement, was particularly popular with critics who saw this moment as a reflection of the President's character.

Examples of selfie in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Hamilton and Kim also smile for a selfie alongside a friend and Khloé, who joined the two along with her kids, daughter True, 8, and Tatum, 4, on the trip. — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026

Mirrored walls offered guests the perfect excuse to snap a quick selfie or touch up their lip gloss. — Simone Cook, Vogue, 18 Sep. 2026

The message contrasted from that of a post Wietrzyk made earlier in the week that, according to the Athletic, also included a selfie of the athlete apparently in a hospital bed. — Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026

Some seemed to have dressed up for the occasion; a man in a suit with a newsprint pattern was taking selfies a couple rows in front of me. — Esther King, The Dial, 15 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

2002, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for selfie

• be
• bee
• bree
• cree
• fee
• flea
• flee
• free
• gee
• ghee
• glee
• he

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Kids Definition

selfie

noun

self·​ie

ˈsel-fē

plural selfies

: an image of oneself taken by oneself using a digital camera especially for posting on social networks