ego
10 synonyms for ego, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A person's sense of their own importance and self-worth.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use ego
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
bruised ego
a big ego
boost someone's ego
Etymology
Straight from Latin ego, "I" — Freud's English translators picked it to render his German term das Ich ("the I").
Full origin of ego →Frequently asked questions
What does “ego” mean?
The word “ego” means a person's sense of their own importance and self-worth. In plain terms, either someone's self-image and pride, or (in psychology) the rational, reality-facing part of the mind.
How do you pronounce “ego”?
“Ego” is pronounced EE-goh (/ˈiɡoʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “ego” in a sentence?
Here is “ego” used in a sentence: “Winning the award did wonders for his ego.”
What is another word for “ego”?
Words with a similar meaning to “ego” include I and Ich.
What part of speech is “ego”?
“Ego” is a noun.
Where does the word “ego” come from?
The word “ego” comes from Latin. Straight from Latin ego, "I" — Freud's English translators picked it to render his German term das Ich ("the I").
Is “ego” a common word?
“Ego” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “ego” have?
“Ego” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person's sense of their own importance and self-worth.
What is the difference between ego and self-esteem?
Ego is a person's sense of their own importance, and in everyday use it often suggests an inflated one, as in "a big ego." Self-esteem is confidence in one's own worth and is generally treated as healthy. Saying someone has a big ego is a criticism, while saying they have good self-esteem is not.
What is the difference between the id, the ego, and the superego?
In Freudian psychology, the ego is the part of the mind that deals rationally with reality, balancing instinct against conscience. The id supplies the raw instincts and desires, the superego acts as the conscience, and the ego mediates between them and the demands of the real world.
What is the plural of ego?
The plural of ego is "egos," not "egoes." Nouns ending in -o vary in English, but ego simply adds -s, as in "a clash of egos."
