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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
Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025
Nearby is a sign urging people to snap their own selfie so that their image can be added to the #reverencearchives.
—Keyaira Boone, Essence, 13 Nov. 2025
During the setup, you'll be asked to scan the photo page of your passport, place the iPhone over the chip near the barcode, take a selfie, and capture Live Photos of a series of facial and head movements—including with your eyes closed for a moment.
—PC Magazine, 13 Nov. 2025
Apple then asks for a selfie to ensure the person holding the device is its actual owner.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 13 Nov. 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 16 Nov. 2025.
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