altruistic

adjective

al·​tru·​is·​tic ˌal-trü-ˈi-stik How to pronounce altruistic (audio)
: 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
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
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

Examples of altruistic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Victoria's ghoulish parents (Albert Finney and Joanna Lumley) have organized the union for not entirely altruistic reasons. Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 31 Oct. 2023 Some studies find that women in general tend to be more altruistic than men. Holly Corbett, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 People will overpromise and be too altruistic in a very unrealistic way. Rob Reddick, WIRED, 28 Feb. 2024 Your head is in a giving place with the moon coordinating with altruistic Neptune. USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2024 Isaac Getz, a professor (and my thesis advisor) at ESCP Business School and the author of an upcoming book on the concept of the altruistic enterprise, pointed out to me that is a first great flaw of the approach. Peter Vanham, Fortune, 4 Jan. 2024 But the cantankerous Cato’s actions are not altruistic. Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 17 Jan. 2024 The first task is to convince Republican voters—and by extension all Americans—that international engagement is not merely an altruistic idea but a strategy with tangible benefits. Gerald F. Seib, Foreign Affairs, 9 Jan. 2024 When Sam Altman was briefly ousted from OpenAI in November, there was all kinds of speculation that the company was developing its tech too quickly, that its for-profit ambitions had overwhelmed its altruistic intentions. Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 25 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'altruistic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of altruistic was in 1853

Dictionary Entries Near altruistic

Cite this Entry

“Altruistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/altruistic. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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