selfsacrificial

Selfsacrificial is an adjective used to describe actions, motives, or dispositions that involve self-sacrifice—voluntarily giving up one's own interests, comfort, or safety for the benefit of others or a greater cause. It often implies a high degree of personal cost or risk and can be applied to individuals, groups, or policies.

Etymology and usage: The term blends self with sacrificial, derived from sacrifice. The more common hyphenated form self-sacrificial or the adjective self-sacrificing is preferred in many style guides; the unhyphenated form selfsacrificial appears in some modern texts, though it is less standard and may vary by publication.

Contexts: In ethics and philosophy, selfsacrificial behavior is discussed in relation to altruism, moral duty, and utilitarian calculations. In religion, self-sacrifice is often framed as fidelity to a divine plan or to spiritual values. In literature and media, selfsacrificial characters are portrayed as heroes who risk or surrender their lives for others, reinforcing themes of sacrifice and redemption.

See also: altruism, self-denial, selflessness, sacrifice, martyr, utilitarianism.