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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

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.

See Examples For:

Soccer, like much of life, is a team sport, and teams don’t go far unless there’s unselfish cooperation, etc.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 17, 2026

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

From unwavering confidence to an unselfish drive to coach and inspire others, BBC Sport analyses what has made Pimblett so successful.

From BBC Jan. 23, 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

She believed that young people just starting out in their careers should not feel burdened by obligations, no matter how unselfish the offer of help might be.

From "The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights" by Russell Freedman

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