# selfless

/ˈsɛɫfɫəs/ (US) · /sˈɛlfləs/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/selfless
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

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

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.