What is selfies mean


Selfie Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

self·​ie ˈsel-fē 

: an image that includes oneself (often with another person or as part of a group) and is taken by oneself using a digital camera especially for posting on social networks

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The first-known appearance of selfie in written form occurred in 2002 on an Australian news website, but the word didn't see much use until 2012. By November 2013, selfie was appearing frequently enough in print and electronic media that Oxford Dictionaries (publisher of the Oxford English Dictionary as well as other dictionaries) chose the word as its Word of the Year. This announcement itself led to a significant increase in the use of the word by news organizations, an increase that was further boosted following the December 2013 memorial service for Nelson Mandela, at which American President Barack Obama was caught taking a selfie with Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt and British Prime Minister David Cameron. The word selfie, with its suggestions of self-centeredness and self-involvement, was particularly popular with critics who saw this moment as a reflection of the President's character.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The photo showed a smiling Chrisitne, 50, driving while David snapped a selfie in the passenger seat. —Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 21 Feb. 2023 Wearing a zesty orange high-neck top, the actor snapped a selfie that revealed just the lower half of her face—and her excellent hair. —Hannah Coates, Glamour, 3 Feb. 2023 Customers will have one more month to shop for vitamins or snap a selfie inside the converted bank vault. —Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 29 Dec. 2022 While there, Musk snapped a selfie with a Russian state broadcaster. —Justin Ling, WIRED, 20 Dec. 2022 As both injured men waited for help to arrive, Jake Nolan snapped this selfie. —CBS News, 5 Nov. 2022 These days, Vitullo-Martin says many a fan of the show can be seen snapping a selfie near the archways. —Catherine E. Shoichet And Austin Steele, CNN, 10 Sep. 2022 Although the park boasts striking salt flats and impressive dunes, many visitors come to see the thermometer and snap a selfie, Park Ranger Matthew Lamar said. —Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2022 One lucky fan, who works at the Wow Wow Lemonade Stand on W. Eighth Street, even had the honor of whipping up a drink for the musician — and snapping a selfie with him, of course. —Dallas News, 16 Aug. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'selfie. ' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

2002, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of selfie was in 2002

See more words from the same year

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“Selfie.Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/selfie. Accessed 19 Mar. 2023.

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Kids Definition

selfie

noun

self·​ie

ˈsel-fē

: an image of oneself taken by oneself using a digital camera especially for posting on social networks

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

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Merriam-Webster unabridged

definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

Examples of selfie

selfie

They are a class of self-centered, self-absorbed, selfie-snapping 20-somethings.

From NPR