noun

ego

EE-goh/ˈiːɡəʊ/

A person's sense of self and personal identity.

He has a strong ego and a clear sense of identity.

An adult man admires an oversized portrait of himself while overlooking a colleague carrying their shared project; self-important posture and proud smile.

Etymology

Latin ego means “I.” English turned that pronoun into a noun for the thinking, feeling self, then extended it to conceit—an inflated sense of personal importance.

In context

Psych2Go5:22

Having a large ego is different than simply being confident in your abilities. It's important to know the difference between being egotistical and being confident, as well as the difference between always focusing on self-interest and self-care.

6 Signs Your Ego Is Controlling Your Life

More examples

The criticism hurts her ego more than she admits.
They set their egos aside and work together.
In psychology, ego can refer to the conscious sense of self.

Forms

ego · egos

egotism noun — The habit of emphasizing one's own importance.

Similar words

self: Self refers to personal identity without suggesting excessive pride.
pride: Pride emphasizes satisfaction in oneself rather than personal identity.
identity: Identity emphasizes distinguishing characteristics rather than feelings of personal worth.