selfie

noun

self·​ie ˈsel-fē 

: 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

Did you know?

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 May 2021, DeLonge got remarried to his girlfriend Marie and shared the news on Instagram by posting a selfie in front of a courthouse. — Ariana Quihuiz, PEOPLE, 16 Aug. 2026

With the 11 Pro Fold offering a telephoto sensor and better selfie cameras across the board, Google gets the win for now. — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 16 Aug. 2026

After growing the pixie cut back out into a bob, the Mad Men actress showed off her hair while rocking a lacy blue co-ord set in selfies posted to Instagram in March. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 14 Aug. 2026

Fire it up, and the robot folds out and brings the camera up above the phone's screen, where it's pointed at you for selfies, vlogging, and even some anthropomorphized interaction. — New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

2002, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for selfie

• be
• bee
• bree
• cree
• fee
• flea
• flee
• free
• gee
• ghee
• glee
• he

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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