Altruists

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Individuals motivated by selfless concern for the well-being of others while often prioritizing others' needs above their own
2. People who actively seek to promote the happiness and welfare of others, sometimes at a personal cost
3. Individuals who exhibit a genuine desire to help others and contribute to the greater good, often valuing kindness and generosity

Etymology: Auguste Comte, the French philosopher who founded sociology, coined the French "altruisme" in the 1830s, and English took it up from there. He built it from the Latin "alter", meaning "other", by way of the Old French "autrui", "to others". The word was meant as the opposite of egoism, a term for living for the sake of others rather than oneself. The ending "-ist" is a simple agent suffix, marking a person who holds or practises the idea, so "altruist" is the English noun for someone who follows altruism. The plural "altruists" simply names several such people.

Synonyms: selfless individuals, philanthropists, humanitarians, benefactors, do-gooders

Antonyms: egoists, selfish individuals, narcissists