noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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CMU ARPABET:S EH1 L F IH1 N T R AH0 S T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
One's personal interest or advantage, especially when pursued without regard for others.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
I cannot abandon my husband for the sake of self-interest and personal gain.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: interest
2
noun
Meaning 2
concern for your own interests and welfare
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
taking advantage of opportunities without regard for the consequences for others
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: opportunism, self-seeking, expedience
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: selfishness
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *swé? Proto-Indo-European *selbh-der. Proto-Germanic *selbaz Old English self Old English self- Middle English self- English self- English interest English self-interest From self- + interest.
Across languages
Translations
23 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Chinese Mandarin:
利己主義 /利己主义
(lìjǐzhǔyì)
— personal interest
Chinese Mandarin:
私心
(sīxīn)
— personal interest
Chinese Mandarin:
自利
(zìlì)
— personal interest
Danish:
egennytte
— personal interest
Danish:
egeninteresse
— personal interest
Danish:
selvinteresse
— personal interest
Finnish:
oma etu
— personal interest
German:
Eigennutz
— personal interest
German:
Eigeninteresse
— personal interest
Greek:
ιδιοτέλεια
(idiotéleia)
— personal interest
Hebrew:
אינטרס עצמי
(interes 'atsmi)
— personal interest
Norwegian Bokmål:
egeninteresse
— personal interest
Norwegian Bokmål:
eigeninteresse
— personal interest
Norwegian Nynorsk:
eigeninteresse
— personal interest
Polish:
własna korzyść
— personal interest
Polish:
własny interes
— personal interest
Portuguese:
interesseirismo
— personal interest
Punjabi:
ਸ੍ਵਾਰਥ
(svārath)
— personal interest
Russian:
своекоры́стие
(svojekorýstije)
— personal interest