selfie: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighInformal, colloquial. Widely used in everyday speech, journalism, and marketing. Rare in formal academic or legal writing.
Quick answer
What does “selfie” mean?
A photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically with a smartphone or webcam, and shared via social media.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically with a smartphone or webcam, and shared via social media.
The term can extend to refer to the culture or act of taking such photos, and by extension, to similar self-portrait formats in other media (e.g., 'selfie video').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally informal and widespread in both cultures. Slightly more established in the lexicon as it was added to major dictionaries in the mid-2010s.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both UK and US English.
Grammar
How to Use “selfie” in a Sentence
to take a selfie [with someone/of something]to post/upload/share a selfie [on platform]a selfie of [person/group]a selfie with [person/landmark]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “selfie” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We stopped to selfie in front of the London Eye.
- She's always selfieing when we're out.
American English
- They selfied in front of the Grand Canyon.
- He selfied his new haircut for Instagram.
adjective
British English
- It was a proper selfie moment.
- The selfie generation is always online.
American English
- She has a great selfie smile.
- The phone's selfie camera is high resolution.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in marketing, social media strategy, and branding discussions (e.g., 'a selfie campaign').
Academic
Used in sociological, cultural, or media studies papers analysing digital culture.
Everyday
Extremely common in casual conversation about social activities and social media.
Technical
Used in software/application development (e.g., 'selfie camera', 'selfie filter').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “selfie”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “selfie”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “selfie”
- Incorrect: 'He took a selfie of me.' (A selfie is by definition of oneself). Correct: 'He took a selfie with me.' or 'He took a picture of me.'
- Spelling: 'selfy' is incorrect.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'selfie' is an informal, colloquial word. In formal writing, 'self-portrait' is often more appropriate, though 'selfie' may be used in specific contexts discussing modern culture.
Yes, informally. For example, 'They selfied all day on their holiday.' However, the phrase 'take a selfie' is still more common than the verb form.
The standard plural is 'selfies' (e.g., 'She has hundreds of selfies on her phone.').
The term gained widespread popularity in the early 2010s with the rise of front-facing smartphone cameras and social media platforms like Instagram. It was named Oxford Dictionaries' Word of the Year in 2013.
A photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically with a smartphone or webcam, and shared via social media.
Selfie: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɛlfi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɛlfi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “selfie generation”
- “selfie-obsessed”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SELF' + 'ie' (like a cute, informal ending). It's a picture of your SELF, taken by yourSELF.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE SELF AS A BRAND / Self-presentation as a curated commodity.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most accurate definition of a 'selfie'?