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Noun: egoism  'ee-gow,i-zum
  1. Concern for your own interests and welfare
    "The politician's egoism prevented him from considering the needs of his constituents";
    - egocentrism, self-interest, self-concern, self-centeredness [US], self-centredness [Brit, Cdn], egocentricity
     
  2. (ethics) the theory that the pursuit of your own welfare is the basis of morality
    "Some philosophers argue that egoism is incompatible with altruism"

Derived forms: egoisms

Type of: theory, trait

Encyclopedia: Egoism