Altruistically

Altruistically is an adverb describing actions performed for the benefit of others without expectation of personal gain. It is used to indicate selflessness in motivation or aim, often in statements about charitable, benevolent, or prosocial behavior. The word derives from altruistic, the adjective form, which in turn comes from altruism, a term that denotes concern for the welfare of others.

Etymology: The noun altruism arose in the 19th century, popularized by Auguste Comte; the word is formed from French altruisme and Italian altrui meaning “other people” (ultimately from Latin alter, “other”). The adverb altruistically follows standard English derivation by adding -ly to the adjective.

Usage: In everyday speech, one may say, “She donated altruistically,” or “They acted altruistically by helping strangers.” In scholarly contexts, altruistically is used to discuss motivation or to contrast self-interested versus other-regarding behavior. Some analyses note that even apparently altruistic actions can be influenced by indirect self-interest, social norms, or reputation concerns, complicating assessments of pure altruism.

See also: altruism, altruist, altruistic, selflessness, egoism. See also “unselfishly” and “selflessly” as synonyms or near antonyms. The term is common in psychology, ethics, and sociology, as well as in general discussion of prosocial behavior.