ego
[ ee-goh, eg-oh ]
/ ˈi goʊ, ˈɛg oʊ /
noun, plural e·gos.
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.
- the enduring and conscious element that knows experience.
- 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.
Origin of ego
1780–90; < Latin: I; psychoanalytic term is translation of German (
das)
Ich (the) I
Words nearby ego
eglantine,
eglevsky,
egm,
egmc,
egmont,
ego,
ego analysis,
ego boost,
ego ideal,
ego identity,
ego psychology
Example sentences from the Web for ego
British Dictionary definitions for ego
ego
/ (ˈiːɡəʊ, ˈɛɡəʊ) /
noun plural egos
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
Word Origin for ego
C19: from Latin: I
Medical definitions for ego
ego
[ ē′gō, ĕg′ō ]
n.
In psychoanalytic theory, the division of the psyche that is conscious, most immediately controls thought and behavior, and mediates between the person and external reality.
Cultural definitions for ego
ego
[ (ee-goh) ]
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.
notes for ego
The term
ego is often used to mean personal pride and self-absorption: “Losing at chess doesn't do much for my ego.”