self-interest

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

From self- +‎ interest.

Noun

[edit]

self-interest (countable and uncountable, plural self-interests)

  1. One's personal interest or advantage, especially when pursued without regard for others.
    I cannot abandon my husband for the sake of self-interest and personal gain.
    • 2022 July 27, Charles Hugh Smith, There Won't Be Any Winners Because The Status Quo Is Corrupt Everywhere[1]:
      Corruption becomes fatal when those in power are no longer able to distinguish the difference between self-interest and the national interest.
    • 2023 March 8, Howard Johnston, “Was Marples the real railway wrecker?”, in RAIL, number 978, page 52:
      Government standards of decency and honesty were quite low, and decision-makers were tainted with self-interest and corruption at the very highest level.

Derived terms

[edit]
[edit]

Translations

[edit]