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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
Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Further, the invisible selfie stick, range of accessories, and smart editing tools make the X5 a compelling choice for creators looking to produce the sort of videos that would usually require multiple cameras.
—PC Magazine, 22 Apr. 2025
The Big Bang Theory alum, 39, celebrated her third anniversary with fiancé Pelphrey, 42, on Monday, April 21, sharing a heartfelt Instagram tribute to the Ozark actor — complete with a nose-to-nose selfie.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Venus wrote on Instagram Stories, accompanied by selfies of red marks on her elbow, chest, and stomach.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 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 5 May. 2025.
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