altruism

Meaning

1. (countable, uncountable) Regard for others, both natural and moral without regard for oneself; devotion to the interests of others; brotherly kindness.
2. (countable, uncountable) Action or behaviour that benefits another or others at some cost to the performer.

Opposite of

egoism, selfishness, misanthropy

Synonyms

benevolence

philanthropy

unselfishness

selflessness

self-sacrifice

ingenuousness

kindheartedness

renunciation

sincerity

straightforwardness

frank

mutual love

benevolent disposition

faithfulness

generousness

good will

honesty

Translations

altruisme

altruismo

Altruismus

altruismo

altruísmo

altruïsme

altruisme

onzelfzuchtigheid

αλτρουϊσμός

Selbstlosigkeit

αλτρουισμός

diğerkâmlık

Uneigennützigkeit

φιλαλληλία

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈæl.tɹu.ɪz.əm/

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.