ego

noun

ˈē-(ˌ)gō 

 also  ˈe-

plural egos

1

: the self especially as contrasted with another self or the world

2

a

: egotism sense 2

b

: self-esteem sense 1

3

: the one of the three divisions of the psyche in psychoanalytic theory that serves as the organized conscious mediator between the person and reality especially by functioning both in the perception of and adaptation to reality compare id, superego

egoless adjective

Did you know?

Ego is the Latin word for "I." So if a person seems to begin every sentence with "I", it's sometimes a sign of a big ego. It was the psychologist Sigmund Freud (well, actually his original translator) who put ego into the popular vocabulary, but what he meant by the word is complex, so only other psychologists really use it in the Freudian sense. The rest of us generally use ego simply to mean one's sense of self-worth, whether exaggerated or not. When used in the "exaggerated" sense, ego is almost the same thing as conceit. Meeting a superstar athlete without a trace of this kind of ego would be a most refreshing experience. But having a reasonable sense of your own worth is no sin. Life's little everyday victories are good—in fact, necessary—for a healthy ego.

Synonyms

• pride
• pridefulness
• confidence

Examples of ego in a Sentence

I have enough ego not to want to give up easily in any contest or competition.

a star athlete with a refreshing lack of ego

Recent Examples on the Web

Self-serving bias is built-in to protect your ego unfairly. —Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025

Put that duck-slayer ego to the side and don’t be afraid to ask a few questions about conditions and hazards. —Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 6 Aug. 2025

Just be mindful of clashing egos in group settings — Mars in this position wants collaboration, not competition. —Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 30 July 2025

Five months into Trump’s second term, Musk’s inflated sense of his place in history clashed with the ego of his benefactor, the relationship ruptured, and each man threatened to ruin the other. —Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 28 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, I — more at i

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ego

• alter ego
• ego ideal
• ego trip
• massage someone's ego

Rhymes for ego

• impetigo
• loligo

Kids Definition

ego

noun

ˈē-gō 

plural egos

1

: self entry 2 sense 1

especially : the conscious self

2

a

: conceit sense 1

has a big ego

b

: self-respect sense 1

Medical Definition

ego

noun

ˈē-(ˌ)gō also ˈeg-(ˌ)ō

plural egos

1

: the self especially as contrasted with another self or the world

2

: the one of the three divisions of the psyche in psychoanalytic theory that serves as the organized conscious mediator between the person and reality especially by functioning both in the perception of and adaptation to reality compare id entry 1, superego