Standard Lemma guide

self-serving

adj · 2 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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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Showing interest only in oneself (pursuing self-interest to the exclusion of other goals).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: egocentric, self-centered, self-interested, egoistical, every man for himself, idiocentric, individualistic, interested, porkish, reptilian, selfish, selflike, selfsome, self-absorbed, self-minded, self-seeking, self-serving, solipsistic

Antonyms: none provided

2

adjective satellite

Meaning 2

interested only in yourself

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: self-seeking

Antonyms: none provided

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 serving English self-serving From self- + serving.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: omaa etuaan ajava — showing interest only in oneself
  • Finnish: itsekäs — showing interest only in oneself
  • French: intéressé — showing interest only in oneself
  • German: selbstsüchtig — showing interest only in oneself
  • German: eigennützig — showing interest only in oneself
  • German: egoistisch — showing interest only in oneself
  • Hebrew: אינטרסנט — showing interest only in oneself
  • Hebrew: תועלתן — showing interest only in oneself
  • Italian: autoreferenziale — showing interest only in oneself
  • Polish: wyrachowany — showing interest only in oneself
  • Portuguese: interesseiro — showing interest only in oneself
  • Russian: корыстный (korystnyj) — showing interest only in oneself