egocentric
C1Formal/Academic
Definition
Meaning
Thinking only of oneself, without regard for the feelings or needs of others.
In psychology, referring to the difficulty in seeing a situation from another person's perspective, characteristic of early childhood development.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as an adjective, but can be nominalized to 'egocentric' (a person) or 'egocentricity' (the quality). Often overlaps with but is more clinical than 'selfish'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or frequency.
Connotations
Slightly more clinical/psychological in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in formal and academic writing in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be/become/seem + egocentricfind someone + egocentricVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's the centre of his own universe.”
- “It's all about me with him.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Critiquing a leader's management style: 'His egocentric decision-making alienated the team.'
Academic
Discussing Piaget's developmental stages: 'The preoperational stage is marked by egocentric thought.'
Everyday
Describing a friend:
Technical
In clinical psychology, describing a personality trait.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- His egocentric refusal to compromise derailed the negotiations.
- The toddler's egocentric chatter is a normal part of development.
American English
- The CEO's egocentric vision failed to consider market realities.
- Her egocentric perspective made collaboration impossible.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He is a bit egocentric and only talks about himself.
- Young children are often egocentric and find it hard to share.
- The politician's egocentric policies were widely criticised for lacking empathy.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
EGO + CENTRIC: Your EGO is at the CENTRE of everything.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE SELF IS THE CENTRE OF THE UNIVERSE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'эгоцентричный' for casual 'selfish'. It sounds more formal/psychological in English.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'egoistic' (philosophical term) interchangeably. Confusing with 'egotistical' (more about boastful pride).
Practice
Quiz
In developmental psychology, 'egocentric' specifically refers to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Egocentric' is more clinical and describes a worldview centred on the self, often without malice. 'Selfish' is more moralistic and implies a conscious choice to prioritise one's own needs over others'.
Rarely. It is almost always a criticism. In very specific contexts, like discussing an artist's necessary focus, it might be neutral, but 'single-minded' or 'driven' are more positive alternatives.
Yes, but less common. You can say 'He is an egocentric', meaning an egocentric person. The noun form 'egocentricity' for the quality is more frequent.
The main difference is the vowel in the second syllable: British uses /əʊ/ (as in 'go'), American uses /oʊ/. Stress is always on the third syllable: sen-TRIC.