altruistic
adjective
al·tru·is·tic
ˌal-trü-ˈi-stik 
: relating to or given to altruism:
a
: having or showing an unselfish concern for the welfare of others
altruistic acts/motives
a generous and altruistic person
Yet many of the most important institutions in our society—the fine arts, NGOs, humanitarian charities—depend on the generosity of wealthy citizens with altruistic impulses.—
Jonathan Kay
Jonathan Kay
b
: relating to or being behavior by an animal that is not beneficial to or may be harmful to the animal itself but that benefits others of its species
The evolutionary theory of kin selection requires that social animals recognize their relatives so that altruistic behavior can be displayed preferentially toward kin.—Science
Science
altruistically
adverb
… one of the first researchers to begin to solve the paradox of how the evolutionary struggle to survive and reproduce could give rise to creatures that never reproduce and spend their lives altruistically helping others to survive.
—Carol Kaesuk Yoon
Carol Kaesuk Yoon
Synonyms
Examples of altruistic in a Sentence
I'm not being altruistic in giving you these books, since I was going to have to lug them with me if you hadn't come along
Recent Examples on the Web
Although the movement here might appear - to the external observer at least - to represent something of an enclave of techies in and of itself, the efforts being made here are steeped in altruistic openness and a system meritocracy founded in usefulness, functionality and freedom of use.
—Adrian Bridgwater, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
Some do-gooders can go to altruistic extremes without feeling resentful or judgmental.
—Sigal Samuel, Vox, 21 Jan. 2025
And the students who increased the most in empathy and altruistic behaviors, and who decreased the most in negative mood, also showed the greatest decreases in cardiovascular risk over time.
—Maria Godoy, NPR, 25 Dec. 2024
The same goes for funneling your skills into more altruistic activities.
—Aditi Shrikant, CNBC, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for altruistic 
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Adrian Bridgwater, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
Some do-gooders can go to altruistic extremes without feeling resentful or judgmental.
—Sigal Samuel, Vox, 21 Jan. 2025
And the students who increased the most in empathy and altruistic behaviors, and who decreased the most in negative mood, also showed the greatest decreases in cardiovascular risk over time.
—Maria Godoy, NPR, 25 Dec. 2024
The same goes for funneling your skills into more altruistic activities.
—Aditi Shrikant, CNBC, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for altruistic
Dictionary Entries Near altruistic
Cite this Entry
“Altruistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/altruistic. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.
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