51Թ

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altruism

[ al-troo-iz-uhm ]

noun

  1. the principle or practice of unselfish concern for or devotion to the welfare of others ( egoism ).
  2. Animal Behavior. behavior by an animal that may be to its disadvantage but that benefits others of its kind, as a warning cry that reveals the location of the caller to a predator.


altruism

/ ˈæٰːˌɪə /

noun

  1. the principle or practice of unselfish concern for the welfare of others
  2. the philosophical doctrine that right action is that which produces the greatest benefit to others
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

altruism

/ ăٰ̅̅-ĭ′əm /

  1. Instinctive behavior that is detrimental or without reproductive benefit to the individual but that favors the survival or spread of that individual's genes. The willingness of a subordinate member of a wolf pack to forgo mating and help care for the dominant pair's pups is an example of altruistic behavior. While the individual may not reproduce, or may reproduce less often, its behavior helps ensure that a close relative does successfully reproduce, thus passing on a large share of the altruistic individual's genetic material.

altruism

  1. A selfless concern for others.
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Derived Forms

  • ˌٰˈپ, adverb
  • ˈٰܾ, noun
  • ˌٰˈپ, adjective
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • p·t· noun
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of altruism1

First recorded in 1850–55; from French altruisme, equivalent to autru(i) “others” (with -ui from Latin cui “to whom”; -l- restored from Latin alter “other”) + -isme -ism ( def ); popularized through translation of A. Comte, who perhaps coined it, on the model of éǾ egoism ( def )
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of altruism1

C19: from French altruisme, from Italian altrui others, from Latin ٱī, plural of alter other
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

When I asked if altruism could be a way, she said it’s possible because there are a lot of similarities between kindness and curiosity.

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The group said it hoped to attract more donations and to provide a place for the kind of inspired altruism that emerged after the fires.

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Delivering his eulogy at Hull Minster on Thursday, Sir Tony said Prescott was a "complicated man, wrestling frequently with the tangle of ambition and altruism".

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Perhaps more than any single post-World War II president, Carter changed the way many saw the U.S. by attempting to inject American values of altruism, democracy and human rights into foreign policy.

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A computer science major with an interest in rationalism, self-improvement and effective altruism — a philosophical movement that uses evidence and reason to help others — Mangione enthused about technological innovation.

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