Word

egotism

noun C1

/ˈiːɡəˌtɪzəm/

Meanings

noun

an excessive concern with yourself and your own importance, often shown by bragging or constant self-reference

Definition

Egotism is the habit of talking and thinking about yourself too much, in a way that seems self-important.

Egotism is an excessive focus on yourself, your achievements, and your importance. It often shows up in conversation as constant self-reference, bragging, or dismissing other people’s contributions. Unlike healthy confidence, it tends to make others feel unheard or undervalued.

Examples

I grew tired of his egotism after he turned every conversation into a story about his success.
You can disagree firmly without slipping into egotism or treating everyone else as irrelevant.
She recognized the egotism in her own tone and paused to ask the team what they thought.
They saw his egotism as a weakness because it kept him from learning from criticism.

Common mistake

Learners often confuse "egotism" with "egoism"; egotism is about self-importance and self-talk, while egoism is about acting mainly in your own interest.