As a Noun: 1. Caring only about yourself and not about other people. English = selfishness. Formal English = egotism. 2. The desire to have more of something such as food, money, or power than it is necessary or fair for you to have. English = greed, selfishness. As a Verb or Adjective: 1. To care only about yourself and not about other people. English = (be) selfish. Formal English = (be) egotistic. 2. To want more of something such as food, money, or power than it is necessary or fair for you to have. English = (be) greedy.