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altruist

[al-troo-ist]
See more synonyms for altruist on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a person unselfishly concerned for or devoted to the welfare of others (opposed to egoist).
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Origin of altruist

1865–70; < French altruiste; see altruism, -ist
Related formshy·per·al·tru·ist, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for altruist

contributor, donor, benefactor, patron, promoter, philanthropist, backer, protector, supporter, helper, do-gooder, altruist, angel, assistant, humanitarian, mark, subscriber, fan, sponsor, aid

Examples from the Web for altruist

Historical Examples of altruist

  • To be the altruist, one must first be the egoist (say the philosophers), to give, one must first have.

    The Tyranny of the Dark

    Hamlin Garland

  • If I had your altruist emotional temperament, I should not hesitate for a moment.

    Robert Elsmere

    Mrs. Humphry Ward

  • On our knees the egotist must die, and the altruist be born.

  • In point of fact, of course, he is no more an altruist than any other healthy mammal.

    The American Credo

    George Jean Nathan

  • In the pastor Sudermann attempts to paint the altruist in action.

    Iconoclasts

    James Huneker

Word Origin and History for altruist

n.

1842, from French; see altruism + -ist.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper