altruistic

[ al-troo-is-tik ]
/ ˌæl truˈɪs tɪk /

adjective

unselfishly concerned for or devoted to the welfare of others (opposed to egoistic).
Animal Behavior. of or relating to behavior by an animal that may be to its disadvantage but that benefits others of its kind, often its close relatives.

Origin of altruistic

First recorded in 1850–55; altru(ism) + -istic

OTHER WORDS FROM altruistic

al·tru·is·ti·cal·ly, adverb hy·per·al·tru·is·tic, adjective non·al·tru·is·tic, adjective non·al·tru·is·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby altruistic

Example sentences from the Web for altruistically

  • The lieutenant, being young himself, was not so cautiously and altruistically apprehensive.

    The Storm Centre |Charles Egbert Craddock
  • Selfishly, altruistically, the story was the thing for him to do.

    To Him That Hath |Leroy Scott
  • The three women fell to wrangling, altruistically, of course, over the two front seats.

    What Will People Say? |Rupert Hughes
  • But the girl he saw from the car window—did she also appeal to him altruistically?

    The Little Brown Jug at Kildare |Meredith Nicholson