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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
Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
So go on and ask him for a selfie or autograph.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
Between her thirst-trap selfies and fabulous rendezvous, the 84-year-old never fails to deliver in the content department.
—Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 10 Mar. 2026
Ramirez also shared a few photos of himself posing with Alba at the time, including two cozy selfies that showed Alba throwing her arm around Ramirez as the pair beamed for the camera.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 9 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 13 Mar. 2026.
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