Selfless means putting others' needs before your own without expecting anything in return. When you act selflessly, you help someone even when it costs you time, effort, or something you wanted for yourself.

A selfless act might be giving up your seat on the bus to someone who needs it more, spending your Saturday helping a friend move instead of playing video games, or sharing your lunch with someone who forgot theirs. Selfless people don't help others to get praise or rewards; they do it because they genuinely care.

The word is the opposite of selfish, which means thinking mostly about yourself. Someone who always grabs the best cookie is selfish, but someone who offers you the best cookie is selfless. Notice that being selfless doesn't mean being a pushover or never taking care of yourself. It means being willing to sacrifice for others when it really matters.

You see selflessness in parents who work long hours to support their families, in volunteers who give their time to help strangers, and in everyday moments when someone chooses kindness over convenience.