anti-egoism
|an-ti-e-go-ism|
🇺🇸
/ˌæntiˈiːɡoʊɪzəm/
🇬🇧
/ˌæntiˈiːɡəʊɪzəm/
against self-interest
Etymology
'anti-egoism' originates from Modern English as a compound of the prefix 'anti-' and the noun 'egoism'. 'anti-' ultimately comes from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against', and 'egoism' derives from French 'égoïsme' (from Latin 'ego' meaning 'I') where 'ego' meant 'I'.
'anti-egoism' was formed by combining the productive prefix 'anti-' (used in English since classical and medieval borrowings) with 'egoism' (from French 'égoïsme', itself from Latin 'ego'). The parts converged in English usage in discussions of ethics and social philosophy from the 19th and 20th centuries onward.
Initially formed simply to denote opposition to 'egoism' (the doctrine valuing self-interest), the term has come to be used both as a formal philosophical label and as a general descriptor for attitudes or practices that resist selfishness.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a philosophical position or doctrine opposing egoism (the view that self-interest is the primary or sole motivation for action).
Her book defended anti-egoism, arguing that moral life requires concern for others as well as oneself.
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Noun 2
a general attitude or practice of resisting selfish behavior and promoting selflessness or communal concern.
Anti-egoism in the community was visible in the volunteers who always prioritized collective needs.
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Last updated: 2025/10/26 05:33