Word

narcissist

noun B2

UK /ˈnɑːsɪsɪst/

US /ˈnɑːrsəsɪst/

Meanings

noun

a person who is extremely self-centered and seeks constant admiration, often lacking empathy

noun

someone who shows an excessive interest in their own appearance or image

Definition

A narcissist is someone who is excessively self-centered and craves admiration while showing little empathy for others.

A narcissist is a person who focuses strongly on themselves and wants a lot of attention and praise. They often talk about their own achievements and may ignore other people’s feelings. In everyday use, the word describes someone whose behavior seems selfish, arrogant, or overly concerned with their image.

Examples

He’s a narcissist who turns every conversation back to himself.
She realized her boss was a narcissist when he took credit for the team’s work.
Living with a narcissist can be exhausting and confusing.
They called him a narcissist because he constantly needed praise.

Common mistake

Learners sometimes use narcissist to mean simply “confident,” but it usually implies unhealthy self-absorption and lack of empathy.