Öncélú

Öncélú is an adjective in Hungarian used to describe actions, motives, or policies that are driven primarily by personal or narrow interests rather than the common good or altruism. In everyday language it often carries a negative or critical connotation, suggesting that the actor prioritizes personal gain over broader or public considerations.

Etymology of the term comes from ön (self) and cél (goal) with the suffix -ú, forming a compound that literally means “aimed at the self.” The word is commonly contrasted with önzetlen (selfless) and is frequently used in ethical, political, economic, and organizational contexts to evaluate motivation or justification for conduct.

Usage and examples: In ethics and political discourse, öncélú actions are described as motivated by personal advantage rather than communal benefit. For instance, a decision that primarily benefits the decision maker or their close circle might be labeled öncélú. In business, critics may call a management decision öncélúnak, implying that it serves executives’ interests at the expense of employees or customers. The term is often paired with phrases like öncélú motiváció or öncélú viselkedés (self-serving motivation or self-serving behavior).

Relation to related terms: Öncélú behavior is closely related to concepts such as önérdekű (self-interested) and önérdek (self-interest). It is typically distinguished from önzetlen tevékenység (selfless activity) and altruizmus, with the former emphasizing collective or altruistic aims and the latter implying actions without regard to personal gain.

See also: önérdek, önérdekű, önzetség, önzetlenség, altruizmus.