# pathos

/ˈpeɪθɑs/ (US) · /pˈeɪθɒs/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pathos
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

the quality of something that makes you feel pity, sadness, or deep emotion. It is often used to describe a story or a piece of music that touches your heart.

For teachers: the quality of a literary or artistic work that evokes pity, sorrow, or deep emotional response. Often used to describe the emotional impact of a narrative or performance.

## Examples

- The movie has a lot of pathos that makes you cry.
- The author uses the pathos of the character's lonely childhood to make the reader feel sympathy for his later mistakes.
- While the play is technically brilliant, its lack of pathos leaves the audience feeling detached from the protagonist's final, tragic decision.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.