What does unselfishly mean?
Unselfishly is an adverb meaning in a way that places the interests of others before personal advantage. It describes actions performed without an expectation of reward, recognition, or convenience, such as sharing resources, helping someone in difficulty, or giving up a desirable opportunity for another person. The word is usually commendatory and conveys sincerity and moral generosity, although it may be used ironically when a supposed selfless act is understood to be strategically self-serving. In everyday use, it is less common than the more direct selflessly and somewhat more formal than simply being helpful or generous. Unselfishly belongs to a family of forms including the adjective unselfish and the noun unselfishness, all of which emphasize conduct that is not motivated by selfish interests.
adverbIn a way that shows no regard for personal advantage; selflessly or altruistically.
- In a manner that is not selfish; with no expectation of personal benefit.
"She unselfishly offered her seat to the elderly passenger."
"The volunteers worked unselfishly to provide meals to families in need."
"He unselfishly declined the promotion so that his colleague could take the position."
Sometimes the most generous move is the one nobody gets credit for.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unselfishly come from?
The adjective unselfish was formed in English by combining the negative prefix un- with selfish, and the adverb unselfishly was formed by adding the usual adverbial suffix -ly. Selfish is itself built from self and the suffix -ish, while the element self has roots in Old English. The development therefore follows ordinary English word formation: a negative prefix and related base form produce an adjective, which in turn provides the basis for the adverb.
Related word forms
How unselfishly is actually used
Formally neutral to positive, and commonly used to praise conduct that benefits others despite personal cost. It can also be used ironically when a person's supposed generosity is suspected of serving a personal interest.
Easily confused with unselfishly
Selfishly means with regard to one's own advantage, whereas unselfishly means without regard to personal gain.