altruism

al·tru·ism

noun \ˈal-trü-ˌi-zəm\

Definition of ALTRUISM

1

: unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others

2

: behavior by an animal that is not beneficial to or may be harmful to itself but that benefits others of its species

— al·tru·ist \-trü-ist\ noun

— al·tru·is·tic \ˌal-trü-ˈis-tik\ adjective

— al·tru·is·ti·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Examples of ALTRUISM

1. A few skimpy corporate pensions were paid, but they were offered as much as departure incentives designed to promote business efficiency as expressions of altruism. —W. Andrew Achenbaum, Wilson Quarterly, Spring 2006
2. Mary may have ample resources and prefer that her share pass to her children who have greater need and are in lower income tax brackets. (The progressive nature of our tax laws often fosters such altruism among family members.) —William M. McGovern, Jr. et al., Wills, Trusts and Estates, 1988
3. And he still chokes up when he tells the story. Even at that young age, he understood that what his aunt was doing for him was the purest act of altruism. —Gail Sheehy, New York Times Magazine, 20 Apr. 1986

Origin of ALTRUISM

French altruisme, from autrui other people, from Old French, oblique case form of autre other, from Latin alter

First Known Use: 1853

Other Zoology Terms

integument

Rhymes with ALTRUISM

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altruism

   (Concise Encyclopedia)

Ethical theory that regards the good of others as the end of moral action; by extension, the disposition to take the good of others as an end in itself. The term (French, altruisme, derived from Latin alter: “other”) was coined in the 19th century by Auguste Comte and adopted generally as a convenient antithesis to egoism. Most altruists have held that each person has an obligation to further the pleasures and alleviate the pains of other people. The same argument holds if happiness, rather than pleasure, is taken as the end of life.