n.
Pronunciation: ' al-trü- ˌ i-z ə m
Etymology: French altruisme, from autrui other people, from Old French, oblique case form of autre other, from Latin alter
Date: 1853
1 : unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others
2 : behavior by an animal that is not beneficial to or may be harmful to itself but that benefits others of its species
– al · tru · ist \ -trü-ist \ noun
– al · tru · is · tic \ ˌ al-trü- ' is-tik \ adjective
– al · tru · is · ti · cal · ly \ -ti-k( ə -)l ē \ adverb