Slightly related, I looked up these words earlier today (definitions from
The Oxford American Dictionary):
EGOISM
USAGE The words egoism and egotism are frequently confused, as though interchangeable, but there are distinctions worth noting. Both words derive from Latin: ego (‘I’), the first-person singular pronoun. Egotism, the more commonly used term, denotes an excessive sense of self-importance, too-frequent use of the word 'I,' and general arrogance and boastfulness. Egoism, a more subtle term, is perhaps best left to ethicists, for whom it denotes a view or theory of moral behavior in which self-interest is the root of moral conduct. An egoist, then, might devote considerable attention to introspection, but could be modest about it, whereas an egotist would have an exaggerated sense of the importance of his or her self-analysis, and would have to tell everyone.
EGOTISM
egotism, egoism
noun
Darla's egotism will always thwart her chances for a lasting relationship SELF-CENTEREDNESS, egomania, egocentricity, self-interest, selfishness, self-seeking, self-serving, self-regard, self-love, narcissism, self-admiration, vanity, conceit, self-importance; boastfulness. See also note at PRIDE .
THE RIGHT WORD Is the handsome, arrogant, successful politician who thinks the world revolves around him an egoist or an egotist? Egotism is a negative term that combines extreme self-preoccupation with a tendency to show off or attract attention, while egoism is a more neutral term for those who are preoccupied with their own needs and interests but do not necessarily consider themselves superior
the egoism of teenagers is well-documented).
