self-sacrifice

noun

self-sac·​ri·​fice

ˌself-ˈsa-krə-ˌfīs,

 also  -fəs,

or

-ˌfīz 

: sacrifice of oneself or one's interest for others or for a cause or ideal

Examples of self-sacrifice in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Our ideas about what being a good girlfriend entails are ingrained in ideals around perpetual selflessness and self-sacrifice. —Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 13 Mar. 2024

Yet what is becoming clearer is that some sort of primitive collectivity — and, with it, organized self-sacrifices by living things — went on for possibly billions of years before multicellular life arose. —Quanta Magazine, 6 Mar. 2024

Floria, less inclined to self-sacrifice, disagrees. —Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2024

And yet the town has another history too, of resistance and resilience and heroic acts of self-sacrifice which Wilkerson also relates in his low, frank, warm narration. —Jessica Kiang, Variety, 27 Feb. 2024

Throughout the month Ramadan is celebrated through daily fasting, prayer, charity, focus to God and self-discipline and self-sacrifice. —The Arizona Republic, 19 Feb. 2024

Continuing down this path of self-sacrifice risks damaging your own prospects for success. —Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 20 Jan. 2024

Yet surely to think of artist-mothers as only suffering or silenced simply reinforces self-sacrifice as the measure of motherhood. —Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2023

In Latine culture, motherly self-sacrifice is rooted in marianismo and familismo, an ideology that values dedication, commitment, and loyalty to family. —Maria Matta, refinery29.com, 26 Sep. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

self-sacrifice

noun

self-sac·​ri·​fice

ˈself-ˈsak-rə-ˌfīs,

-fəs

: an unselfish giving over of oneself or one's own interest for others

self-sacrificing

-ˌfī-siŋ

adjective