How do you pronounce self-interest?

The recorded pronunciation is /sˈɛlfˈɪntɹəst/.

self-interest

/sˈɛlfˈɪntɹəst/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.91 in modern English

Syllables: self--in-ter-est
IPA: /sˈɛlfˈɪntɹəst/

Scrabble Score

Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

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

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"I cannot abandon my husband for the sake of self-interest and personal gain."
"And so he reasoned until the first generous impulse to proclaim the truth and relinquish his titles and his estates to their rightful owner was forgotten beneath the mass of sophistries which self-interest had advanced."
"Corruption becomes fatal when those in power are no longer able to distinguish the difference between self-interest and the national interest."
"Government standards of decency and honesty were quite low, and decision-makers were tainted with self-interest and corruption at the very highest level."

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *swé? Proto-Indo-European *selbʰ-der. Proto-Germanic *selbaz Old English self Old English self- Middle English self- English self- English interest English self-interest From self- + interest.

Usage

Inflected Forms

self-interests (plural)

Phrases

broad self-interest economic self-interest enlightened self-interest naked self-interest narrow self-interest self-interested self-interestedness law of the jungle

Frequently Paired Words

self-interested self-interestedness law of the jungle public interest enlightened self-interest

Synonyms

self egoism egocentrism self-concern self-centeredness opportunism self-seeking expedience

Rhymes With

interest noninterest