Pronunciation: - ' in-t( ə -)r ə st; - ' in-t ə - ˌ rest, - ˌ trest; - ' in-t ə rst
Function: noun
Date: 1649
1 : a concern for one's own advantage and well-being <acted out of self-interest and fear>
2 : one's own interest or advantage < self-interest requires that we be generous in foreign aid>
– self-in · ter · est · ed adjective
– self-in · ter · est · ed · ly adverb
– self-in · ter · est · ed · ness noun