English Reference
noun

apathetic

n.
US /ˌæpəˈθɛtɪk/ UK /ˌæpɐθˈɛtɪk/ ap·a·thet·ic

  1. 01 C2 Proficiency Formal

    a person who does not care or shows no interest in a specific issue.

    an individual characterized by indifference or a lack of concern, especially regarding a particular cause or movement.

    Simple

    It is hard to start a protest when you are surrounded by apathetics.

    In context

    The organizer lamented that the town was full of apathetics who refused to attend even the most critical town hall meetings.

    Usage

    Used as a countable noun, though the adjective form is significantly more common.

    activistzealot

Waitressing had made me feel hopeless and stupid, and I became apathetic towards all work.

The Guardian· 29 Aug 2026

From apathy + -etic.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated