selfless

[self-lis]

See more synonyms for selfless on Thesaurus.com

adjective

having little or no concern for oneself, especially with regard to fame, position, money, etc.; unselfish.

Origin of selfless

First recorded in 1815–25; self + -less

Related formsself·less·ly, adverbself·less·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for selfless

Contemporary Examples

Yet Lohse is confident that the reader will take his actions as the fruits of selfless moral courage.
An Ivy League Frat Boy’s Shallow Repentance
Stefan Beck
November 24, 2014
We celebrate military heroes and selfless individuals who sacrifice their own lives for the good of others.
On Her Own Terms: Why Brittany Maynard Has Chosen to Die
Gene Robinson
October 12, 2014
In fact, our devotion to those ideals has only been strengthened by the selfless heroism we have seen.
The Resilient City: New York After 9/11
John Avlon
September 11, 2014
The letter closes with noble words of faith and hope from the hot zone where screw-ups are met each day with selfless courage.
How Bureaucrats Let Ebola Spread to Nigeria
Michael Daly
August 14, 2014
I loved him then for his generosity to others and for his selfless concern for the Cause.
Leonard Bernstein Asked About Hemingway, So Martha Gellhorn Set the Record Straight
Leonard Bernstein, Martha Gellhorn
October 27, 2013

Historical Examples

He should have that oil of joy for his work, for his high, selfless purposes.
Jane Journeys On
Ruth Comfort Mitchell
Mrs. Trevor accounted him the most devoted and selfless friend that woman ever had.
The Rough Road
William John Locke
He enlarged on this theme, on the Kingdom which can belong only to those who are selfless.
In the Wilderness
Robert Hichens
There were, needless to say, selfless exceptions to the egotistic rule.
After the Rain
Sam Vaknin
The yearning yet selfless love which it expressed was not for my eyes to witness.
Bat Wing
Sax Rohmer

British Dictionary definitions for selfless

selfless

adjective

having little concern for one's own interests

Derived Formsselflessly, adverbselflessness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for selfless

adj.

"devoted to others' welfare or interest and not one's own," 1825, from self + -less. First attested in Coleridge. Related: Selflessly; selflessness.

selfless

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}selfless

Related Words

Examples from the Web for selfless

Contemporary Examples

Yet Lohse is confident that the reader will take his actions as the fruits of selfless moral courage.

We celebrate military heroes and selfless individuals who sacrifice their own lives for the good of others.

In fact, our devotion to those ideals has only been strengthened by the selfless heroism we have seen.

The letter closes with noble words of faith and hope from the hot zone where screw-ups are met each day with selfless courage.

I loved him then for his generosity to others and for his selfless concern for the Cause.

Historical Examples

He should have that oil of joy for his work, for his high, selfless purposes.

Mrs. Trevor accounted him the most devoted and selfless friend that woman ever had.

He enlarged on this theme, on the Kingdom which can belong only to those who are selfless.

There were, needless to say, selfless exceptions to the egotistic rule.

The yearning yet selfless love which it expressed was not for my eyes to witness.

selfless

Word Origin and History for selfless

adj.

Origin of selfless