ENGLISH
REFERENCE

apathy

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced US //ˈæpəθi// UK //ˈæpəθi// ap·a·thy

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.


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.

Synonyms
Origin

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.

Usage

Typically functions as an uncountable noun; often paired with the preposition 'towards' or 'about'.

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