selfie

noun

self·​ie ˈsel-fē How to pronounce selfie (audio)
: 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 In one mirror selfie, she’s seen smiling for the camera with weight machines in the backgroud. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024 But even before Intuitive Machines' spacecraft made it to its destination, Odysseus was beaming back plenty of selfies showcasing astral vistas and even Earth itself. Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2024 Jolie and Pitt at the time of the selfie were still a couple. Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024 On her February 28 Instagram Stories, Chopra posted a bathroom-mirror selfie. . Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 29 Feb. 2024 Pictures may be worth a thousand words, but selfies are worth a skin care overhaul—at least when artificial intelligence is involved. Rachyl Jones, Fortune, 29 Feb. 2024 The video then cuts to another live image of the singer holding the phone in selfie mode, posing with the employees while smiling, waving and throwing peace signs at the camera. Paula Soria, The Arizona Republic, 28 Feb. 2024 Portofino, a village of some 400 inhabitants, has, at times, become so inundated that local officials initiated selfie fines. Catherine Sabino, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Augmenting the Games themselves there was a best mullet contest, a Florida Ma’am pinup contest, an opportunity to take selfie photos with an alligator, and a bingo game decided by two chickens. Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'selfie.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

2002, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of selfie was in 2002

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Dictionary Entries Near selfie

Cite this Entry

“Selfie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/selfie. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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