egotism

[ee-guh-tiz-uh m, eg-uh-] /ˈi gəˌtɪz əm, ˈɛg ə-/
noun
1.
excessive and objectionable reference to oneself in conversation or writing; conceit; boastfulness.
2.
selfishness; self-centeredness; egoism.
Origin
1705-15; < Latin ego ego + -ism; -t- perhaps after despotism, idiotism2
Related forms
antiegotism, noun
Can be confused
egoism, egotism (see synonym study at the current entry)
Synonyms
1. Egotism, egoism refer to preoccupation with one's ego or self. Egotism is the common word for obtrusive and excessive reference to and emphasis upon oneself and one's own importance: His egotism alienated all his friends. Egoism, a less common word, is used especially in philosophy, ethics, or metaphysics, where it emphasizes the importance of or preoccupation with self in relation to other things: sufficient egoism to understand one's central place in the universe. See also pride.
Antonyms
1. humility, modesty, altruism.
Examples from the web for egotism
  • Part of the rampant egotism of students today manifests itself in the reasons that students go to college.
  • We'll see how his fans respond to this latest aesthetic mix of bold-faced egotism and would-be genius.
  • The real problem is infighting, egotism and possibly corruption.
  • We've reached an age where egotism is considered too much work.
  • Their spin and perspective placed on my letter and me appears designed to serve their own egotism and ulterior motives.
  • As you can see, this kind of altruism is really a form of egotism that does not contradict the theory of evolution.
  • Strasberg misled actors through his egotism and his insistence that they mine their own experiences for use in their art.
  • Their campaign forced me to acknowledge that more than a little egotism had crept into my decisions over the years.
  • Whoever dons it immediately becomes a computer-animated whirlwind of obnoxious egotism and untrammeled desire.
  • The model based around a charismatic leader often led to egotism and corruption and students fled disillusioned.
British Dictionary definitions for egotism

egotism

/ˈiːɡəˌtɪzəm; ˈɛɡə-/
noun
1.
an inflated sense of self-importance or superiority; self-centredness
2.
excessive reference to oneself
Word Origin
C18: from Latin ego I + -ism
Word Origin and History for egotism
n.

1714, from ego + -ism (see egotist). Meaning "selfishness" is from 1800.

egotism in Culture
egotism [(ee-guh-tiz-uhm)]

An excessive regard for one's own talents or achievements; conceit, self-importance; acting with only one's own interests in mind.