View synonyms for ego

ego

[ ee-goh, eg-oh ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plural egos.

the “I” or self of any person; a person as thinking, feeling, and willing, and distinguishing itself from the selves of others and from objects of its thought.
Psychoanalysis. the part of the psychic apparatus that experiences and reacts to the outside world and thus mediates between the primitive drives of the id and the demands of the social and physical environment.
egotism; conceit; self-importance:
Her ego becomes more unbearable each day.
self-esteem or self-image; feelings:
Your criticism wounded his ego.
(often initial capital letter) Philosophy.
1. the enduring and conscious element that knows experience.
2. Scholasticism. the complete person comprising both body and soul.
Ethnology. a person who serves as the central reference point in the study of organizational and kinship relationships.

ego

/ ˈɛɡəʊ; ˈiːɡəʊ /

noun

the self of an individual person; the conscious subject
psychoanal the conscious mind, based on perception of the environment from birth onwards: responsible for modifying the antisocial instincts of the id and itself modified by the conscience (superego)
one's image of oneself; morale
to boost one's ego
egotism; conceit

ego

The “I” or self of any person ( ego is Latin for “I”). In psychological terms, the ego is the part of the psyche that experiences the outside world and reacts to it, coming between the primitive drives of the id and the demands of the social environment, represented by the superego .

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Notes

The term ego is often used to mean personal pride and self-absorption: “Losing at chess doesn't do much for my ego.”

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Word History and Origins

Origin of ego¹

First recorded in 1780–90; from Latin: “I”; psychoanalytic term is translation of German (das) Ich “(the) I”

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Word History and Origins

Origin of ego¹

C19: from Latin: I

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Example Sentences

Tár is not a real person, but rather an amalgamation of egos from the world of fine arts, played by Cate Blanchett and masterfully captured in Todd Field’s 2022 film “Tár.”

From Salon

Bannon has a healthy ego himself, but he's not wrong that it's really stupid politics for Trump to saddle up with Musk, who is now going after Social Security and Medicare.

From Salon

But Roberts continually gave Betts both the public and private support he needed to subjugate his ego for the good of the team.

From Los Angeles Times

Haden also is recorded saying homes should not have been built in Pacific Palisades but that residents want to have “natural areas around them for their ego,” calling the area “a f— desert.”

From Los Angeles Times

Trump's "every executive function exists to satisfy his ego," Bouie wrote.

From Salon

Related Words

Egmont ego-alien

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