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• do-good
  do-good

  adjective

  of or befitting a do-gooder.
• do good
  do good

  Act in an upright, moral way; engage in philanthropy. For example, Social workers are trained to help people to help themselves, not simply going around doing good. This term was first recorded in a.d. 725. Also see do any good; do one good.

do-good

American  

[doo-good] / ˈduˌgʊd /

adjective

1. of or befitting a do-gooder.

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do good Idioms  

1. Act in an upright, moral way; engage in philanthropy. For example, Social workers are trained to help people to help themselves, not simply going around doing good. This term was first recorded in a.d. 725. Also see do any good; do one good.

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Etymology

Origin of do-good

First recorded in 1965–70; back formation from do-gooder

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

do-good do good

“It’s a do-good business, a do-good league,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said after the game.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 21, 2022

Use do-good booking platforms and travel search engines such as Fairbnb, Kind Traveler, Responsible Travel and Tourism Cares.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 14, 2022

John Ridley, screenwriter, “12 Years a Slave”: This is not charity, it’s not do-good work.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2020

The honorees include Alison Bechdel, the cartoonist behind the 2006 memoir “Fun Home,” and Mike Mignola, the creator of the Hellboy comic book, about a do-good demon.

From New York Times ● Sep. 25, 2019

Or maybe, she’ll move in with some do-good neighbor.

From "Mississippi Trial, 1955" by Chris Crowe

“We want great people to do good work, then tell their friends and come back.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

"The motivation is high to finish off the year in a good way and the Vuelta will be a big target. The team is strong and we hope to do good things."

From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026

There is an old line that you can do well or do good with your investments, but not both.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 6, 2026

It might do harm; it might do good; it will likely do a bit of both to everyone it touches, and to different degrees.

From Slate ● Jun. 18, 2026

‘Many winters ago, they banded together in secret. At first they called themselves the Healers. Deceived themselves into believing that they’ wished only to do good; to cure sickness, guard against demons.’

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver