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Synonyms

unselfish

American  
[uhn-sel-fish] / ʌnˈsɛl fɪʃ /

adjective

  1. not selfish; disinterested; generous; altruistic.

unselfish British  
/ ʌnˈsɛlfɪʃ /

adjective

  1. not selfish or greedy; generous

"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

Other Word Forms

  • unselfishly adverb
  • unselfishness noun

Etymology

Origin of unselfish

First recorded in 1690–1700; un- 1 + selfish

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.

Stripped of their starriest player and many trusted associates, they’ve morphed into a tighter outfit that plays unselfish team basketball and relies on every player to shoot, rebound and defend.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026

You can see they really enjoy each other and are totally unselfish.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 28, 2026

“You know, he’s a great kid, he’s unselfish, but we’ve got to continue to find a way to continue to make sure we get him shots.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 18, 2025

He’s seeking a collective idea of fun—in his case, taking enjoyment in the process, working hard on aggressive, unselfish play, and in Boston’s offense, 14 zillion 3-point attempts per game.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

Then somebody would have to be unselfish and polite.

From "Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

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.