ALTRUISM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does altruism mean? 

• ALTRUISM (noun)
  The noun ALTRUISM has 1 sense:

1. the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others

  Familiarity information: ALTRUISM used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ALTRUISM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

altruism; selflessness

Hypernyms ("altruism" is a kind of...):

unselfishness (the quality of not putting yourself first but being willing to give your time or money or effort etc. for others)

Antonym:

egoism (concern for your own interests and welfare)

Derivation:

altruist (someone who makes charitable donations intended to increase human well-being)

 Context examples 

With immortality before me, altruism would be a paying business proposition.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Spencer I remembered enough to know that altruism was imperative to his ideal of highest conduct.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

There’s where I ran across ‘altruism,’ and I remember now how it was used.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

“Then you don’t believe in altruism?” I asked.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)