Definition of Self-interest

1. Noun. Taking advantage of opportunities without regard for the consequences for others.

Exact synonyms: Expedience, Opportunism, Self-seeking
Generic synonyms: Selfishness
Derivative terms: Expedient, Opportunist, Opportunistic

2. Noun. Concern for your own interests and welfare.
Exact synonyms: Egocentrism, Egoism, Self-centeredness, Self-concern
Generic synonyms: Trait
Antonyms: Altruism
Derivative terms: Egoist, Egoist, Self-centered

Definition of Self-interest

1. Noun. One's personal interest or advantage, especially when pursued without regard for others. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Self-interest

self-induced
self-inductance
self-induction
self-indulgence
self-indulgent
self-infection
self-inflicted
self-injure
self-injured
self-injures
self-injuring
self-injury
self-insertion
self-insurance
self-interest (current term)
self-involved
self-justification
self-justificatory
self-kill
self-killing
self-knowledge
self-learning
self-life
self-limited
self-limited disease
self-loader
self-loading
self-locking
self-love

Literary usage of Self-interest

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Observations on Man, His Frame, His Duty, and His Expectations by David Hartley (1834)
"To deduce practical Observations on self-interest and Self-annihilation. ... self-interest being reckoned by some writers the only stable point upon which a ..."

2. Observations on Man, His Frame, His Duty, and His Expectations by David Hartley (1834)
"To deduce practical Observations on self-interest and Self-Annihilation. ... self-interest being reckoned by some writers the only stable point upon which a ..."

3. The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the by Charles George Herbermann, Edward Aloysius Pace, Condé Bénoist Pallen, Thomas Joseph Shahan, John Joseph Wynne (1913)
"Staunchly standing by the principle of unqualified egoism, Bentham rids himself of the task of reconciling self-interest and altruism: "Dream not that men ..."

4. Readings in Industrial Society: A Study in the Structure and Functioning of by Leon Carroll Marshall (1918)
"For the regard for self-interest on the part of consumers will lead always to ... This conception of the single force of self-interest, creating and keeping ..."

5. Principles of Political Economy by Thomas Nixon Carver (1919)
"CHAPTER III self-interest The fact that we are going to study the problem of ... What is self-interest? Our discussion will center naturally around two main ..."

6. Power and Market by Murray N. Rothbard (2006)
"Knowledge of Self-Interest: An Alleged Critical Assumption This criticism of the market is more existential than ethical. It is the popular argument that ..."

7. James Mill: A Biography by Alexander Bain (1882)
"... determining fact is always self-love or self-interest . Thus says Hume—" Political writers have established it as a maxim, that in contriving any system ..."

8. James Mill: A Biography by Alexander Bain (1882)
"... determining fact is always self-love or self-interest. Thus says Hume—" Political writers have established it as a maxim, that in contriving any system ..."

Other Resources:

Search for Self-interest on Dictionary.com!Search for Self-interest on Thesaurus.com!Search for Self-interest on Google!Search for Self-interest on Wikipedia!

Search