What does altruistic mean?
Word: Altruistic
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Altruistic means caring about other people's happiness, even when it costs you something.
Synonyms: selfless, unselfish
How do you spell altruistic?
Syllables: al - tru - is - tic
Tricky part: The middle has u and i side by side, each with its own beat, so altrustic and altrueistic are both wrong.
Watch out for: altrustic, altrueistic
Memory tip: Altruistic people are true friends, but true loses its e here: the next letter after the u is an i.
Altruistic in a sentence
Example 1: Sunita's altruistic decision to give up her window seat made the old man smile.
Example 2: Altruistic volunteers clean the town beach every Sunday morning.
Example 3: Lending your notes to someone who missed class is a small altruistic act.
Fun Fact
The French thinker Auguste Comte is credited with coining the word altruisme in the 1800s, and English soon borrowed it.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
alltruistic
a) r
b) l
c) t
d) s
Show answer
b) l. Only one l is needed, right after the opening a.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word altruistic as used in the sentence:
Rehan's altruistic offer to coach the younger children every Saturday touched the whole school.
a) selfish
b) big-hearted
c) generous
d) charitable
Show answer
a) selfish. A selfish person thinks of himself first; generous, charitable and big-hearted all lean the same way as altruistic.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
My elder sister's ltstrciaui work at the animal shelter earns her no money at all.
a) idealistic
b) artistic
c) realistic
d) altruistic
Show answer
d) altruistic. Ten letters, with a u, two i's and no e, can only make altruistic.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is correct. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. pesimistic 2. charactaristic 3. enthusastic 4. altruistic
a) expecting that things will turn out badly
b) putting the good of others ahead of your own comfort
c) typical of a particular person or thing
d) full of eager interest in something
Show answer
b) putting the good of others ahead of your own comfort. Pessimistic needs a double s, enthusiastic has an i after the s and characteristic has er in it, so altruistic stands alone.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which action is the most altruistic?
a) helping a neighbour to earn a good report
b) sharing your notes only with those who pay
c) giving your lunch to a hungry classmate
d) asking for a prize after helping a friend
Show answer
c) giving your lunch to a hungry classmate
2. Which person below is NOT acting in an altruistic way?
a) a boy who helps only when a camera is watching
b) a dentist who gives free check-ups on Sundays
c) a man who quietly mends a neighbour's gate
d) a girl who gives her pocket money to a food drive
Show answer
a) a boy who helps only when a camera is watching
