altruism

[al-troo-iz-uhm]

noun

1. the principle or practice of unselfish concern for or devotion to the welfare of others (egoism ).

2. Animal Behavior.,  behavior by an animal that may be to its disadvantage but that benefits others of its kind, as a warning cry that reveals the location of the caller to a predator.

altruism

/ ˈæltruːˌɪzəm /

noun

1. the principle or practice of unselfish concern for the welfare of others

2. the philosophical doctrine that right action is that which produces the greatest benefit to others

altruism

1. Instinctive behavior that is detrimental or without reproductive benefit to the individual but that favors the survival or spread of that individual's genes. The willingness of a subordinate member of a wolf pack to forgo mating and help care for the dominant pair's pups is an example of altruistic behavior. While the individual may not reproduce, or may reproduce less often, its behavior helps ensure that a close relative does successfully reproduce, thus passing on a large share of the altruistic individual's genetic material.

altruism

1. A selfless concern for others.

Other Word Forms

• hyperaltruism noun
• altruistically adverb
• altruist noun
• altruistic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of altruism¹

First recorded in 1850–55; from French altruisme, equivalent to autru(i) “others” (with -ui from Latin cui “to whom”; -l- restored from Latin alter “other”) + -isme -ism ( def. ); popularized through translation of A. Comte, who perhaps coined it, on the model of égoisme egoism ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of altruism¹

C19: from French altruisme, from Italian altrui others, from Latin alterī, plural of alter other

Example Sentences

Often, body-donation is driven by simple altruism, she says: "A lot of people are either educated or interested in education."

From BBC

"The characters' excessive altruism was disturbing - almost to the point of seeming unhinged," reads a comment on popular South Korean discussion site Nate Pann.

From BBC

But this wasn't American altruism, as Trump implies.

From BBC

While women are expected to show agreeableness, care and altruism, they aren’t rewarded when they do, but men are.

From Salon

What do we know about what happens in the brain during an act of altruism?

From Salon

Related Words

• benevolence 
• humanitarianism 
• kindness 
• selflessness