Meaning & use
ego
Last updated
A person's sense of self-importance or self-esteem, especially when regarded as excessive.
See it in a sentence
His ego took a hit when the audience didn't laugh at his joke.
Winning the award gave her a small but welcome boost to her ego.
A note on using this word
In psychoanalysis (Freud), the "ego" specifically mediates between the instinctual id and the moralistic superego; everyday usage is broader and more casual.
Words with a similar meaning
self-esteempride
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Another way to use it
2. noun
In psychoanalytic theory, the part of the mind that mediates between conscious reality and unconscious desire.
Freud described the ego as the mediator between the id and the superego.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “ego”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.