egotism

noun

ego·​tism ˈē-gə-ˌti-zəm 

 also  ˈe-

1

a

: excessive use of the first person singular personal pronoun

b

: the practice of talking about oneself too much

2

: an exaggerated sense of self-importance : conceit compare egoism sense 2

egotist

ˈē-gə-tist 

 also  ˈe-

noun

Synonyms

• amour propre
• bighead
• complacence
• complacency
• conceit
• conceitedness
• ego
• pomposity
• pompousness
• pride
• pridefulness
• self-admiration
• self-assumption
• self-conceit
• self-congratulation
• self-esteem
• self-glory
• self-importance
• self-love
• self-opinion
• self-satisfaction
• smugness
• swelled head
• swellheadedness
• vaingloriousness
• vainglory
• vainness
• vanity

Example Sentences

In his egotism he thought everyone was coming just to see him.

for someone who has won a Nobel Prize in physics, he is remarkably without egotism

Recent Examples on the Web

Elsewhere, Randall tells Beth HE needs to be in charge of Rebecca's care, because Kate is overwhelmed, and Kevin is too irresponsible (the egotism is rampant). —Amanda Ostuni, EW.com, 11 May 2022

Obama’s spiritual rendering of our cultural decline goes some way toward explaining why, beyond sheer egotism, he’s set on remaining an active narrator and promoter of his own story. —Osita Nwanevu, The New Republic, 19 Nov. 2020

The Fabelmans combines family therapy with Hollywood egotism, letting careerism heals all wounds. —Armond White, National Review, 27 Jan. 2023

Every instrument sounds individually miked, and the balances done in the editing room meant to underscore a sense of massive egotism. —Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2023

The adjective has been paired with everything from egotism to irony to fascism. —Adam Kirsch, The New Republic, 21 Oct. 2022

Studies 5-7 provided experimental support for implicit egotism. —Ncbi Rofl, Discover Magazine, 24 Mar. 2011

Paradoxically, her egotism can transcend self-obsession to make her work an exploration of female experience tout court, and that, too, is a hope. —Sasha Frere-jones, Harper’s Magazine , 9 Nov. 2022

As with many Shakespearean characters, Moses’s arc is a fall from idealism to egotism. —Maureen Dowd, New York Times, 22 Oct. 2022

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Word History

Etymology

Latin ego + English -tism (as in idiotism)

First Known Use

1714, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

egotism

noun

ego·​tism ˈē-gə-ˌtiz-əm 

1

: the practice of talking about oneself too much

2

: an overly high opinion of one's own importance : conceit

egotist

-təst 

noun

egotistic

ˌē-gə-ˈtis-tik 

adjective

or egotistical

-ˈtis-ti-kəl 

egotistically

-ˈtis-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

egotism

noun

ego·​tism

ˈē-gə-ˌtiz-əm also ˈeg-ə-

: an exaggerated sense of self-importance compare egoism sense 2