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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
Iyaz Akhtar, PC Magazine, 5 Sep. 2025
During a 10-minute intermission, Goldsberry and Soo mingled with fans and took selfies, and Disney CEO Bob Iger was spotted making his way through the crowd.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
In snaps shared by Meyer, the two posed for a few selfies alongside their graduate.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
By late afternoon, a line of fans — nearly all young females — wrapped around the block, passing the time taking selfies with Myers’ tour bus behind them.
—Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 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 10 Sep. 2025.
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