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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
Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Erected in 1941, the pier’s famous blue-and-gold sign — the subject of endless selfies — marks the end of an epic journey that for many motorists is far more than just another road trip.
—Joe Yogerst, CNN Money, 27 May 2026
Summer is filled with opportunities for cute nailfies (aka nail selfies).
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 27 May 2026
The foldable form factor also pays off if taking selfies is your thing.
—ArsTechnica, 27 May 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 Jun. 2026.
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