Selflessness means caring more about others' needs and wellbeing than your own comfort or advantage. A selfless person might give up their seat on a crowded bus to an elderly passenger, spend their Saturday helping a friend move instead of playing video games, or share their lunch with someone who forgot theirs.

Selflessness shows up in small moments and grand gestures. A firefighter running into a burning building to save strangers demonstrates selflessness. So does a student who stays after school to help a classmate understand fractions instead of heading straight to soccer practice.

The word comes from putting aside your self and your immediate wants. It's the opposite of selfishness, where someone thinks only about what benefits them. Notice that selflessness doesn't mean ignoring your own needs entirely or letting people take advantage of you. It means being willing to sacrifice your own interests when someone else genuinely needs help, while still respecting yourself.