self-interest

noun

self-in·​ter·​est ˌself-ˈin-t(ə-)rəst 

-ˈin-tə-ˌrest, 

-ˌtrest;

-ˈin-tərst

1

: a concern for one's own advantage and well-being

acted out of self-interest and fear

2

: one's own interest or advantage

self-interest requires that we be generous in foreign aid

self-interested

ˌself-ˈin-t(ə-)rə-stəd 

-ˈin-tə-ˌre-, 

-ˈin-ˌtre-;

-ˈin-tər-

adjective

self-interestedly adverb

self-interestedness noun

Synonyms of self-interest

• selfishness
• selfness
• vanity
• ego
• egoism

Examples of self-interest in a Sentence

her degree of self-interest is perhaps best reflected in her favorite topic of conversation—herself

Recent Examples on the Web

Moving away from insurance subsidies and directing payments to taxpayers would serve as a first step toward empowering Americans to make their own health care choices and leverage their self-interest to contain health care costs. —Kim-Lien Nguyen, Boston Herald, 29 Nov. 2025

But social norms remain a powerful tool for ensuring that self-interest doesn’t erode the collective good. —W. David Marx, The Atlantic, 25 Nov. 2025

Calvinists, who had once condemned the pursuit of profit, eventually embraced a vocation as rational actors driven by thrifty self-interest. —Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025

Football is no stranger to infighting in its world of self-interest and the rising revenues have unintended consequences. —Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1595, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for self-interest

• abreast
• accessed
• addressed
• appressed
• armrest
• arrest
• assessed
• attest
• backrest
• behest
• bequest
• caressed

Kids Definition

self-interest

noun

self-in·​ter·​est

ˈsel-ˈfin-trəst, 

-ˈfint-ə-rəst

1

: a concern for one's own advantage

acted out of self-interest and fear

2

: one's own interest or advantage