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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
Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026
Now, Gomez shared a cute selfie with her and Lovato giving each other a hug.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026
Other specs confirmed by this latest listing include 512GB of storage, a 5,000mAh battery, 30W charging, a 50MP selfie camera, a 50MP rear camera, an 8MP ultrawide, and a 50MP telephoto capable of 2x zoom.
—James Peckham, PC Magazine, 14 Apr. 2026
In two separate selfies, the singer and actress cuddled with Emerson, while another snapshot depicted the newborn napping in her car seat.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 13 Apr. 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 22 Apr. 2026.
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