Unselfish

adj.kind, thoughtfulwarm

What it means

Willing to give proper weight to another person's needs instead of seeking personal advantage.

Reach for it when praising a choice that sacrifices credit, comfort, time, or opportunity for someone else

Her unselfish choice gave the final travel grant to the student who had no other route.

playful
big-hearted
when affectionate praise for generous character suits
not when Big-hearted is informal and focuses on warmth rather than the decision made.
everyday
considerate
when another person's needs are noticed in a routine choice
not when Consideration may cost nothing, while unselfish often highlights a competing self-interest.
everyday
generous
when freely giving time, resources, or credit is visible
not when Generosity can come from abundance and need not involve giving up an advantage.
warm
giving
when habitual generosity should sound personal
not when Giving is broad and can describe gifts without a difficult tradeoff.
warm
selfless
when another person's welfare is placed wholly before one's own
not when Selfless is a stronger, almost absolute claim and can glorify unhealthy self-neglect.
formal
altruistic
when concern for others motivates an action in analytical prose
not when Altruistic sounds clinical and may overclaim pure motives.
formal
public-spirited
when service to the wider community is central
not when Public-spirited does not fit private sacrifice for one friend or relative.
literary
magnanimous
when generosity toward a rival or defeated person is notable
not when Magnanimous is grand and status-laden for ordinary sharing.

unselfish act
The unselfish act meant taking the less convenient shift without announcing it.
unselfish decision
His unselfish decision kept the scholarship open for applicants without family support.
truly unselfish
A truly unselfish offer leaves the recipient free to decline.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.