altruistic purpose

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "altruistic purpose" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing actions or motivations that are intended to benefit others without personal gain. Example: "The charity was founded with an altruistic purpose, aiming to help those in need regardless of their background."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

An outcry by parents and other trustees blocked the moves, but the incident illustrates the dangers of mixing business practice with altruistic purpose, Mr. McFarlan says.

The New York Times

This research has a practical and altruistic purpose: to help victims of stroke or traumatic brain injury regain their cognitive abilities and motor function.

Harvard Business Review

The new owners of the theater, Mr. Washington said, "are basically local residents who have an altruistic purpose, rather than one of profit; they purchased it for the good of the community".

The New York Times

When I called Dr. Pfeffer to ask about varieties of injured tendons, for the purely altruistic purpose of informing others, who might end up like me, with a loud peg-leg thump when I walked and a general sense of irritability, he told me that when a lump has appeared, and the tendon looks like a "snake that has swallowed an apple," the condition has worsened.

The New York Times - Health

It may sound like the self-indulgent dream of an insatiable adrenaline junkie, but in fact the project has an altogether more altruistic purpose.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

If you invented the centrifuge to help people but the technology was adapted for less altruistic purposes, would you feel responsible?

The New York Times

Nevertheless, there are currently 2 bills that were submitted in the Federal Congress to regulate surrogacy, only allowing it for altruistic purposes.

Yale University

However, given the altruistic purposes of humanitarian work, the grossly insufficient resources available, and the urgency of many situations we intervene in, surely particular effort should be made to reduce inefficiencies, bad practices and favouritism?

The Guardian

While it is hard to imagine an American bank buying a rare violin and lending it for altruistic purposes, there are individual American collectors, like Herbert Axelrod in Allenhurst, N.J., who lend instruments from their collections.

The New York Times - Arts

The design of the car has the sheen of power and luxury, which belies the high-flying altruistic purposes Varon and his partners foresee for their low-flying dream pod.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

This is certainly true in many cases; however, one must also remember that few regulations are ever written for altruistic purposes; economic, marketing, or competitive advantages are usually the motivation.

Quality and Power in the Supply Chain What Industry Does for the Sake of Quality

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "altruistic purpose", ensure the context clearly indicates that the action or motivation is genuinely intended to benefit others without any expectation of personal gain. Misusing it can undermine the perceived sincerity of the action.

Common error

Avoid using "altruistic purpose" to describe actions that primarily benefit the actor, even if they incidentally help others. True altruism requires prioritizing the well-being of others above one's own.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "altruistic purpose" functions as a noun phrase, where "altruistic" modifies "purpose". According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It often describes the underlying motivation behind an action or organization.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "altruistic purpose" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes a selfless motivation or intention to benefit others. While relatively rare, it's found in various contexts, including news, academia, and science. As Ludwig AI confirms, using "altruistic purpose" accurately emphasizes the benevolent nature of an action or goal. Remember to use it when the action is genuinely for the benefit of others, and explore alternatives like "selfless aim" or "humanitarian goal" to add nuance to your writing. The phrase is more formal than informal and it's usage requires a careful consideration to the authentic inclination towards helping others.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

altruistic intention

A direct synonym, replacing "purpose" with "intention".

selfless aim

Emphasizes the lack of self-interest in the goal.

benevolent objective

Highlights the well-meaning nature of the objective.

humanitarian goal

Specifically relates the goal to improving human welfare.

charitable intent

Focuses on the charitable aspect of the intention.

philanthropic endeavor

Suggests a larger-scale, impactful undertaking.

self-sacrificing motivation

Stresses the personal cost involved in the motivation.

unselfish ambition

Highlights the absence of ego in the ambition.

compassionate cause

Emphasizes the compassionate motivation behind the cause.

public-spirited motive

Relates the motive to benefiting the public.

FAQs

What does "altruistic purpose" mean?

An "altruistic purpose" refers to an intention or goal that is driven by selfless concern for the well-being of others. It means acting for the benefit of someone else without expecting any personal reward.

How can I use "altruistic purpose" in a sentence?

You can use "altruistic purpose" to describe the motivations behind charitable actions, volunteering, or any act intended to help others. For example: "The organization was founded with an "altruistic purpose" to provide education to underprivileged children."

What can I say instead of "altruistic purpose"?

You can use alternatives like "selfless aim", "benevolent objective", or "humanitarian goal" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "altruistic purpose" and "self-serving purpose"?

"Altruistic purpose" implies acting for the benefit of others, while "self-serving purpose" suggests acting primarily for one's own advantage. The key difference lies in the intention behind the action.