What’s apathy mean Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/əˈpæreɪti/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Noun, Adjective

Definition

Apathy is a lack of interest, concern, or emotion towards something or someone; a feeling of indifference or lack of enthusiasm.

Etymology

The word “apathy” comes from the Greek word “apatheia,” meaning “without passion,” and the Latin word “apatia,” meaning “absence of passion.” The concept of apathy has been present in various cultures and philosophical traditions throughout history.

Usage Notes

Apathy can be used to describe a personal feeling or a social phenomenon. It’s often used in the context of describing a lack of engagement or motivation.

Cultural References

Apathy has been a common theme in popular culture, from literary works like Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” to musical songs like “Apathy” by the band blink-182.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

• “Apathy is the enemy of progress.”
• “He’s lost his passion and now feels apathetic towards his work.”

Related Words or Phrases

• Boredom
• Lethargy
• Indifference

Collocations

• Suffer from apathy
• Express apathy
• Fear apathy

Frequency of Use

Apathy is a relatively common concept in modern language, with a moderate frequency of use in both spoken and written communication.

Common Misspellings

Apatty, Apathay, Apethy