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
The actress, model, and singer portrayed the altruistic dreamer Lani McKenzie on season 8 of the action series, which centered on the exploits of a group of Los Angeles County lifeguards.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025
To Vincent, Harris was the ideal example of what an altruistic man ought to be.
—Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 26 Sep. 2025
By now we’re used to seeing George Clooney stand up for human rights, Angelina Jolie advocate for the Global South and Leonardo DiCaprio agitate for the environment, larger-than-life movie stars putting their celebrity to altruistic end.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2025
Pledges to give it all away A good friend of philanthropist Michael Milken who has raised billions of dollars for cancer research, Ellison believes the road to bliss is altruistic giving.
—Martine Paris, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for altruistic
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Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025
To Vincent, Harris was the ideal example of what an altruistic man ought to be.
—Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 26 Sep. 2025
By now we’re used to seeing George Clooney stand up for human rights, Angelina Jolie advocate for the Global South and Leonardo DiCaprio agitate for the environment, larger-than-life movie stars putting their celebrity to altruistic end.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2025
Pledges to give it all away A good friend of philanthropist Michael Milken who has raised billions of dollars for cancer research, Ellison believes the road to bliss is altruistic giving.
—Martine Paris, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 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 8 Oct. 2025.
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