selfless
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of selfless
Compare meaning
How does selfless compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
When you're being selfless, you're thinking of other people before yourself. Selfless is the opposite of selfish. If you're selfless, you think less about your self, and more about others — you're generous and kind. Being selfless is similar to being altruistic — another word for giving to others without looking for personal gain. If you give time, money, or things to other people without expecting something in return, that's selfless. Most people would agree that the world would be a better place if there were more selfless behavior.
Vocabulary lists containing selfless
Giving Words
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'Tis The Season: Words For Giving
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You're Too Kind! Synonyms for "Generous"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The family of a Scottish aid worker found dead in a suitcase in Greece has said she was "kind, principled and selfless".
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026
“He was caring, selfless, and the most loving person.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
Then, for some, there are shades of hard-won redemption in selfless acts executed at great cost.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
Uganda's army chief Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba said the monument honoured his courage and selfless service.
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026
Nor, more puzzlingly, did he gain any fame or even much attention from half a century of consistent and increasingly selfless achievement.
From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
