ENGLISH
REFERENCE

selfless

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈsɛɫfɫəs// UK //sˈɛlfləs// self·less

adj. caring more about other people's needs and happiness than your own. You use this to describe someone who is very generous with their time or help.

adj. concerned more with the needs and wishes of others than with one's own; unselfish. Often used to describe heroic or charitable actions.


SIMPLE

She is a selfless person who always helps her neighbors.

CONTEXTUAL

The nurse's selfless dedication to her patients during the crisis earned her a national award for service.

COMPLEX

True leadership often requires selfless decision-making, where the long-term health of the organization is prioritized over the leader's personal reputation or immediate financial gain.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From self + -less.

Usage

Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun or predicatively after linking verbs like 'be' or 'seem'.

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