altruism

noun

Definition of altruismnext
as in generosity
feelings and behavior that show a desire to help other people and a lack of selfishness charitable acts motivated purely by altruism In one final act of altruism, she donated almost all of her money to the hospital.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of altruism Musk did push for structures that would have given him control, and Altman and Brockman became extraordinarily wealthy from an organization built around the language of altruism. — Anisha Sircar, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026 Advertisement The company has deep roots in effective altruism (EA), a social and philanthropic movement dedicated to using reason to do the most good, including by averting catastrophe. — Harry Booth, Time, 11 Mar. 2026 The company accepted charitable grants, including thirty million dollars from what was then called Open Philanthropy, a hub of the effective-altruism movement whose commitments included supporting the distribution of mosquito nets to the global poor. — Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026 Trefethen led a similar portfolio at the philanthropic organization, Coefficient Giving, which is a major funder of the effective altruism community that has sometimes clashed with OpenAI’s vision for artificial intelligence. — Thalia Beaty, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for altruism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for altruism
  1. generosity
  2. charity
  3. philanthropy
Noun
  • Research published by the Natural Hazards Center found that donors may be motivated by generosity, a desire to feel directly connected to survivors or an opportunity to clear unwanted items from their homes.
    — Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • To be opening the show on Dolly’s 81st birthday is not only a celebration of a milestone, but of a life shaped by generosity, courage, and purpose that, in this moment, feels not only uplifting and inspiring, but essential.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 7 July 2026
Definition of generosity
Noun
  • The judgment, which will be issued remotely without a hearing, comes as Harry is in London for charity events.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 July 2026
  • Last year, the charity Oxfam noted that G7 countries, which collectively account for around 75% of all official development assistance, were set to slash their aid spending by 28% in 2026 compared to 2024 levels.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 6 July 2026
Definition of charity
Noun
  • That opens a door for city governments, philanthropies, employers and civic groups to supplement accounts for children in low-income communities.
    — Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • These kinds of parks require complex financing from different sources, including philanthropy, federal dollars and local sources, Daniel Church, a Sasaki official who worked on the plan, said Tuesday.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 July 2026
Definition of philanthropy

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altruism
altruist
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Cite this Entry

“Altruism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/altruism. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on altruism

Nglish: Translation of altruism for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about altruism

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