Word
altruism
Phoneticsal·tru·ism
US/ˈæɫtɹuˌɪzəm/
UK/ˈɔːltɹuːˌɪzəm/
Definition
n. the quality of being selfless and caring for others without expecting anything in return. You use this to describe someone who helps others just because it is the right thing to do.
n. the selfless concern for the well-being of others, typically involving a sacrifice of one's own interests. Often used in evolutionary biology to describe behaviors that benefit the group at a personal cost.
Examples
“True altruism is rare in nature.”
“The biologist studied altruism in wolves, noting how they often protect the pack's young even if it puts themselves at risk.”
“Evolutionary theory struggles to explain altruism because natural selection favors traits that increase individual survival and reproductive success, yet many species exhibit behaviors that benefit the collective at a personal expense.”
Examples
simple
“True altruism is rare in nature.”
contextual
“The biologist studied altruism in wolves, noting how they often protect the pack's young even if it puts themselves at risk.”
complex
“Evolutionary theory struggles to explain altruism because natural selection favors traits that increase individual survival and reproductive success, yet many species exhibit behaviors that benefit the collective at a personal expense.”
Real-World Examples
“Science suggests we are hardwired for altruism, but do we really need to be thinking of others all the time?” “Some followers of the effective altruism movement give up to half of their income to charity.” “But Tomkinson says that in the longer term, the main driver for the bioplastics renaissance will not be eco-friendly altruism, but the profit motive.” “Past psychology studies have tried to identify the neurobiological, social and psychological factors that influence altruism.” Etymology
From French altruisme, which was coined in 1830 by Auguste Comte from autrui (“of or to others”) + -isme, from Old French, from Latin alteri, dative of alter (“other”) (whence also English alter). Apparently inspired by the French Latin legal phrase l'autrui, from le bien, le droit d'autrui (“the good, the right of the other”). Introduced into English by George Henry Lewes in 1853, in his translation Comte’s Philosophy of the Sciences, 1, xxi.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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