SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
altruistic
adjective
Motivated by concern for others rather than personal gain.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Concerned for others
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topGenerous action is not always altruistic if personal advantage is its main motive.
RELATED FORMS, ONE FEATURED ENTRY
The altruistic family
These forms are closely related, but their grammar and use are not identical. Expand a form to compare its meaning and examples.
altruismnoun
Concern for others' welfare without seeking personal gain.
Unselfish concern
Closest synonyms
Related expressions
Her quiet help with the move was an act of altruism.
A repair workshop depended on volunteers whose altruism led them to give time without expecting a personal reward.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See altruistic in use
The volunteers described their work as an altruistic commitment.
An affluent graduate offered supplies from her well-funded studio, and the group described the gift as altruistic because she sought no payment, publicity, or special access in return.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license