altruistic
adjective
al·tru·is·tic
ˌal-trü-ˈi-stik 
: relating to or given to altruism:
a
: having or showing an unselfish concern for the welfare of others
altruistic acts/motives
a generous and altruistic person
Yet many of the most important institutions in our society—the fine arts, NGOs, humanitarian charities—depend on the generosity of wealthy citizens with altruistic impulses.—
Jonathan Kay
Jonathan Kay
b
: relating to or being behavior by an animal that is not beneficial to or may be harmful to the animal itself but that benefits others of its species
The evolutionary theory of kin selection requires that social animals recognize their relatives so that altruistic behavior can be displayed preferentially toward kin.—Science
Science
altruistically
adverb
… one of the first researchers to begin to solve the paradox of how the evolutionary struggle to survive and reproduce could give rise to creatures that never reproduce and spend their lives altruistically helping others to survive.
—Carol Kaesuk Yoon
Carol Kaesuk Yoon
Examples of altruistic in a Sentence
I'm not being altruistic in giving you these books, since I was going to have to lug them with me if you hadn't come along
Recent Examples on the Web
There is no more belief in the necessity of altruistic programs like the Peace Corps.
—Jeryl Brunner, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
But the country’s efforts aren’t purely altruistic.
—Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, The Conversation, 14 Mar. 2025
And now there’s another chance for whiskey collectors to throw down big bucks for bottles, albeit without an altruistic bent, via the new Whisky & Whiskey auction from Sotheby’s.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2025
Jennifer Glen, General Manager at Americas ad Squad, said the Puppy Bowl’s altruistic element also offers a nice contrast to the Super Bowl’s commercialism.
—Kevin Williams, Quartz, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for altruistic
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Jeryl Brunner, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
But the country’s efforts aren’t purely altruistic.
—Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, The Conversation, 14 Mar. 2025
And now there’s another chance for whiskey collectors to throw down big bucks for bottles, albeit without an altruistic bent, via the new Whisky & Whiskey auction from Sotheby’s.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2025
Jennifer Glen, General Manager at Americas ad Squad, said the Puppy Bowl’s altruistic element also offers a nice contrast to the Super Bowl’s commercialism.
—Kevin Williams, Quartz, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for altruistic
Cite this Entry
“Altruistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/altruistic. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.
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