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

Examples of egotism in a Sentence

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

On October 15, 1924, André Breton published a manifesto that was as notable for its belligerence as its egotism. —Jonathon Keats, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025

After his death the day after Easter at age 88, Francis was hailed for pushing Catholics and others to forsake egotism and materialism in favor of a kinder, more tolerant world focused above all on the marginalized. —Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025

For all his egotism, there was something selfless in his work. —David Denby, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025

For all his egotism, there was something selfless in his work. —David Denby, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin egō "I" + -t- (of uncertain origin) + -ism — more at I entry 1

Note: The word egotism was apparently introduced by Joseph addison in no. 562 of The Spectator (July 2, 1714): "The Gentlemen of Port-Royal, who were more eminent for their Learning and their Humility than any other in France, banished the way of speaking in the First Person out of all their Works, as arising in Vain-Glory and Self-conceit. To shew their particular Aversion to it, they branded this Form of Writing with the Name of an Egotism: a Figure not to be found among the ancient Rhetoricians." "Port-Royal" alludes to the Jansenists, who numbered adherents in the religious communities of Port-Royal des Champs, near Versailles, and Port-Royal de Paris. Addison's statement implies that French égotisme precedes use of the English word, though there appears to be no evidence of this. The first incidence of the French word cited by the Trésor de la langue française is in a translation of The Spectator published in 1726. The formation with -t- as a hiatus-filling vowel is perhaps modeled on idiotism entry 1.

First Known Use

1714, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for egotism

• autism
• fascism
• racism
• sikhism
• statism
• sufism
• thomism
• tourism
• tropism
• abolitionism
• aldosteronism
• americanism

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