Word
apathy
Phoneticsap·a·thy, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈæpəθi/
UK/ˈæpəθi/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. a lack of interest, feeling, or concern about things that are usually important. It is the feeling of not caring what happens or not wanting to make an effort.
n. a state of indifference or suppression of emotions such as concern, excitement, or passion. Often used to describe a collective lack of motivation within a political or social group.
Examples
“Widespread apathy among voters led to a very low turnout.”
“The manager was concerned by the growing apathy in the office, as employees seemed to have lost all interest in the company's goals.”
“Sociologists argue that political apathy is not merely a sign of laziness but often a rational response to a system that appears unresponsive to the needs of the individual.”
Examples
simple
“Widespread apathy among voters led to a very low turnout.”
contextual
“The manager was concerned by the growing apathy in the office, as employees seemed to have lost all interest in the company's goals.”
complex
“Sociologists argue that political apathy is not merely a sign of laziness but often a rational response to a system that appears unresponsive to the needs of the individual.”
Usage
Typically functions as an uncountable noun; often paired with the preposition 'towards' or 'about'.
Real-World Examples
“Dementia can also cause behavioral symptoms such as confusion, apathy, personality changes, anxiety and depression.” Etymology
From French apathie, from Latin apathīa, from Ancient Greek ἀπάθεια (apátheia, “impassibility”, “insensibility”, “freedom from emotion”), from ἀπαθής (apathḗs, “not suffering or having suffered”, “without experience of”), from ἀ- (a-, “not”) + πάθος (páthos, “anything that befalls one”, “incident”, “emotion”, “passion”). Doublet of apatheia, which was borrowed directly from Ancient Greek.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/apathy