altruism

American  

[al-troo-iz-uhm] / ˈæl truˌɪz əm /

noun

altruisms plural

1. the principle or practice of unselfish concern for or devotion to the welfare of others (opposed to egoism).

2. Animal Behavior. behavior by an animal that may be to its disadvantage but that benefits others of its kind, as a warning cry that reveals the location of the caller to a predator.

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altruism British  

/ ˈæltruːˌɪzəm /

noun

1. the principle or practice of unselfish concern for the welfare of others

2. the philosophical doctrine that right action is that which produces the greatest benefit to others

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altruism Scientific  

/ ăl′tro̅o̅-ĭz′əm /

1. Instinctive behavior that is detrimental or without reproductive benefit to the individual but that favors the survival or spread of that individual's genes. The willingness of a subordinate member of a wolf pack to forgo mating and help care for the dominant pair's pups is an example of altruistic behavior. While the individual may not reproduce, or may reproduce less often, its behavior helps ensure that a close relative does successfully reproduce, thus passing on a large share of the altruistic individual's genetic material.

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altruism Cultural  

1. A selfless concern for others.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• altruist
  noun
• hyperaltruism
  noun
• altruistic
  adjective
• altruistically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• altruisms
  plural

Etymology

Origin of altruism

First recorded in 1850–55; from French altruisme, equivalent to autru(i) “others” (with -ui from Latin cui “to whom”; -l- restored from Latin alter “other”) + -isme -ism ( def. ); popularized through translation of A. Comte, who perhaps coined it, on the model of égoisme egoism ( def. )

Explanation

If you see a stranger getting beaten up on the playground and you rush in to rescue them, you have done something unselfish to help another person, otherwise known as an act of altruism. Use the noun altruism to refer to feelings or actions that show an unselfish concern for other people. In science, altruism refers to animal behavior that could be harmful to the animal itself but that contributes to the survival of the animal group. It's related to the adjective altruistic. Someone known for their altruism is an altruist.

Example Sentences

She is the author of the book "Your Brain on Altruism: The Power of Connection and Community During Times of Crisis."

From Salon • Sep. 25, 2025

Altruism is one of the core concepts of Humanistic Buddhism.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2023

"Altruism is something that really interests me so I wanted to try it."

From BBC • Jan. 1, 2023

Just a year before that conversation, MacAskill had helped give effective altruism its name and home in the Centre for Effective Altruism.

From Slate • Nov. 18, 2022

Altruism and egoism are divergent developments from the common psychological root of primitive ethical sentiment.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 7 "Equation" to "Ethics" by Various

Related Words

• benevolence
• humanitarianism
• kindness
• selflessness