egotism

noun

ego·​tism ˈē-gə-ˌti-zəm How to pronounce egotism (audio)
 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 How to pronounce egotism (audio)
 also  ˈe-
noun

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 Rather than prop up her parents as easy targets, Bartlett lays bare their contradictory humanity over a 44-year journey from wide-eyed idealism to head-in-the-sand egotism. Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 15 Jan. 2024 The compassion in this new cut doesn’t undercut the many scenes of bad behavior, rock-star excess, self-defeating egotism, and descent into junkiedom. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2024 The vibe is one of camp send-up of Hollywood narcissism, but irony and egotism are blended like a fine Bordeaux. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2024 These were Iowans, after all, staid and true, embarrassed by egotism, but eventually the guys in overalls seemed puzzled, then most of the rest. Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 3 Jan. 2024 Alexander Payne’s analyses of small-man, small-town egotism separates him from other American Eccentric filmmakers. Armond White, National Review, 27 Dec. 2023 As in some of his memorable film roles, De Niro confused small-minded egotism with principle. Armond White, National Review, 6 Dec. 2023 To its portrait of the perils of complacency, this final scene thus adds a portrait of the egotism of survival. Jesse Green, New York Times, 28 Nov. 2023 The interesting question, which Magnificent Rebels raises but doesn’t go far toward answering, is how this garden-variety egotism is connected with the sublime egotism of Romantic poetry and thought. Adam Kirsch, The New Republic, 21 Oct. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'egotism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of egotism was in 1714

Dictionary Entries Near egotism

Cite this Entry

“Egotism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/egotism. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

egotism

noun
ego·​tism ˈē-gə-ˌtiz-əm How to pronounce egotism (audio)
1
: the practice of talking about oneself too much
2
: an overly high opinion of one's own importance : conceit
egotist noun
egotistic adjective
or egotistical
egotistically adverb

Medical Definition

egotism

noun
ego·​tism
ˈē-gə-ˌtiz-əm also ˈeg-ə-
: an exaggerated sense of self-importance compare egoism sense 2

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