selfless

[self-lis]

adjective

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

selfless

/ ˈsɛlflɪs /

adjective

1. having little concern for one's own interests

Other Word Forms

• selflessly adverb
• selflessness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of selfless¹

First recorded in 1815–25; self + -less

Example Sentences

Prayer is possibly at its most efficacious, certainly its most selfless, when we pray for the souls in purgatory.

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“This Marine made the ultimate sacrifice, and we are forever grateful for his selfless commitment and willingness to go into harm’s way.”

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McCallum ended the speech by paying tribute to the "quiet service" of "talented, selfless, often courageous MI5 people" and the work they do behind the scenes.

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In a statement released following her death, Rhiannon Whyte's family described her as "selfless... brave, quirky, funny" and always there for other people.

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"None of this would've been possible without that backing. Funding for academic labs like mine and John's is crucial. This is selfless work, driven by a deep love of science and commitment to human health."

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Related Words

• altruistic 
• charitable 
• generous 
• humanitarian 
• loving 
• magnanimous 
• noble 
• self-effacing