Word
selfless
Phoneticsself·less, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɛɫfɫəs/
UK/sˈɛlfləs/
Definition
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.
Examples
“She is a selfless person who always helps her neighbors.”
“The nurse's selfless dedication to her patients during the crisis earned her a national award for service.”
“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.”
Examples
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.”
Usage
Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun or predicatively after linking verbs like 'be' or 'seem'.
Real-World Examples
“As a selfless service to coffee drinkers everywhere, I’ve spent the past two years researching and trialling coffee machines to produce a shortlist of tried-and-tested recommendations.” Etymology
From self + -less.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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