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Egoism

 - 3 dictionary results

e⋅go⋅ism

[ee-goh-iz-uhm, eg-oh-]
–noun
1. the habit of valuing everything only in reference to one's personal interest; selfishness (opposed to altruism ).
2. egotism or conceit.
3. Ethics. the view that morality ultimately rests on self-interest.

Origin:
1775–85; < F égoïsme. See ego, -ism


1. See egotism.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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e·go·ism   (ē'gō-ĭz'əm, ěg'ō-)   
n.  
    1. The ethical doctrine that morality has its foundations in self-interest.

    2. The ethical belief that self-interest is the just and proper motive for all human conduct.

  1. Excessive preoccupation with one's own well-being and interests, usually accompanied by an inflated sense of self-importance.

  2. Egotism; conceit. See Synonyms at conceit.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ego·ism
Pronunciation: 'E-g&-"wiz-&m also 'eg-&-
Function: noun
1 a : a doctrine that individual self-interestis the actual motive of all conscious action b : a doctrine that individual self-interest is the valid end of all actions
2 : excessive concern for oneself withoutexaggerated feelings of self-importance —compare EGOTISMego·ist /-w&st/ nounego·is·tic /"E-g&-'wis-tik also "eg-&-/ also ego·is·ti·cal /-ti-k&l/ adjectiveego·is·ti·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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