noun
ego
EE-goh
noun
1
A person's sense of their own importance and self-worth.
"Winning the award did wonders for his ego."
"She has a huge ego and hates being contradicted."
2
(psychology) In Freudian theory, the part of the mind that deals rationally with reality, balancing instinct against conscience.
"The therapist explained how the ego mediates between desire and guilt."
How to Use Ego
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither someone's self-image and pride, or (in psychology) the rational, reality-facing part of the mind.
Common mistake
Everyday "ego" (self-importance) and the Freudian "ego" are related but not identical — don't assume every use is technical.
Common pairings
bruised ego
a big ego
boost someone's ego
Word Forms
egoed past tense, ego'd past tense, egos plural, egos singular
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Winning the award did wonders for his _____.
Etymology
Straight from Latin ego, "I" — Freud's English translators picked it to render his German term das Ich ("the I").