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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
Emily Menez, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2026
But our cast from Hunting Wives happened to be at the party, and there was Ted talking to them and taking selfies.
—Lacey Rose, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2026
Nobody wants pedestrians doing selfies in the middle of DuSable Lake Shore Drive, cars whizzing by.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
New selfie spots The Centerfield Plaza will be home to an oversized 2025 World Series replica trophy, alongside the 2024 trophy where fans can take pictures.
—Richard Guzman, Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for selfie
Cite this Entry
“Selfie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/selfie. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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