Meaning & use

altruistic

adjective·Academic

Showing selfless concern for the well-being of others, often at some cost to oneself.

See it in a sentence

Her altruistic decision to donate a kidney to a stranger surprised even her closest friends.

The volunteers were driven by altruistic motives, not any hope of payment or recognition.

A note on using this word

Altruistic emphasizes that an action benefits others with no expectation of personal gain, distinguishing it from acts of generosity that also serve one's own interest.

Words with a similar meaning

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Words with an opposite meaning

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