self-interest

noun
UK: /ˌselfˈɪntrəst/
US: /ˌselfˈɪntrəst/

  1. The act of considering your own needs and desires before those of others; behavior that benefits oneself.

    1. He acted out of pure self-interest to get the promotion faster.
    2. The company's decision was driven by self-interest, ignoring the environmental impact of their actions.

  2. A focus on one's personal advantage, often without regard for the well-being of others.

    1. Her self-interest led her to betray her friends for money.
    2. The politician’s policies seemed motivated by self-interest, rather than a genuine desire to help the public.

Synonyms

selfishness egoism self-seeking opportunism
self-interest verb

  1. To act in a way that primarily benefits oneself, often without considering the needs of others.

    1. He self-interested to gain more control over the project.
    2. They self-interested by using company resources for personal gains, ignoring ethical concerns.
self-interest adjective

  1. Relating to or characterized by a concern primarily with one's own advantage or well-being.

    1. His self-interested actions surprised everyone.
    2. The company’s self-interested policies led to a decline in employee morale and productivity.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "self-interest" in English means: The act of considering your own needs and desires before those of others; behavior that benefits oneself., A focus on one's personal advantage, often without regard for the well-being of others..

The phonetic transcription of "self-interest" is /ˌselfˈɪntrəst/ in British English and /ˌselfˈɪntrəst/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "self-interest": selfishness, egoism, self-seeking, opportunism.

Example usage of "self-interest": "He acted out of pure self-interest to get the promotion faster.". More examples on the page.