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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
Séraphine Roger, Glamour, 5 July 2025
The idea sprang from a selfie with Drake, in which the pair are seen grinning broadly.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 4 July 2025
Meghan shared a sweet selfie with Harry on Friday, July 4, offering a glimpse into a cherished tradition the couple has carried out every Independence Day since their second date.
—Sean Mandell, People.com, 4 July 2025
Abrams also shared a photo of herself dancing on Irish actor Paul Mescal’s shoulders over the weekend on her Instagram stories, followed by a selfie in a photo dump on her feed on July 2.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for selfie
Cite this Entry
“Selfie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/selfie. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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