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

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

From Seattle Times • Jul. 21, 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

All do-good groups should enforce the zero-tolerance sexual harassment policies most have on their books, and ensure these rules apply equally to their unpaid interns, board members and volunteers, as well as to paid staff.

From The Guardian • Feb. 14, 2018

“You weren’t going to get her. And we needed a new truck. I’m not a do-good fool—like them.”

From "Orbiting Jupiter" by Gary D. Schmidt