Standard Lemma guide

do-gooder

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

One who advocates a certain course of action, often of political or social concern, and often with the naive conviction of their own moral superiority.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: derogatory

Examples

  • Prohibition in the United States was an unsuccessful attempt by do-gooders to save people from the dangers of alcohol, whether they wanted to be saved or not.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

someone devoted to the promotion of human welfare and to social reforms

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: humanitarian, improver

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: benefactor, helper

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English do good Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Latin -āriusnom. Latin -āriusbor. Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz Proto-West Germanic *-ārī Old English -ere Middle English -ere English -er English do-gooder From do good + -er.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: bonista — one who has a conviction of their own moral superiority
  • Czech: sluníčkář — one who has a conviction of their own moral superiority
  • Czech: pravdoláskař — one who has a conviction of their own moral superiority
  • Finnish: maailmanparantaja — one who has a conviction of their own moral superiority
  • German: Gutmensch — one who has a conviction of their own moral superiority
  • German: Weltverbesserer — one who has a conviction of their own moral superiority
  • German: Weltverbesserin — one who has a conviction of their own moral superiority
  • Hungarian: jótét lélek — one who has a conviction of their own moral superiority
  • Italian: buonista — one who has a conviction of their own moral superiority
  • Māori: kaiauwaha — one who has a conviction of their own moral superiority
  • Norwegian Bokmål: naiv idealist — one who has a conviction of their own moral superiority
  • Polish: dobroczyńca — one who has a conviction of their own moral superiority
  • Portuguese: cidadão de bem — one who has a conviction of their own moral superiority
  • Spanish: buenista — one who has a conviction of their own moral superiority