C1 noun Neutre

apathy

/ˈæpəθi/

Apathy refers to a lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern regarding matters of general importance or appeal. It is a state of indifference where an individual or group remains unmoved by events that would typically trigger an emotional response or action.

Exemples

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1

I was surprised by his apathy when I told him I was moving away after ten years.

I was surprised by his lack of emotion or interest when I told him I was moving away after ten years.

2

The government is struggling to overcome the widespread public apathy toward the new environmental regulations.

The government is struggling to overcome the widespread public indifference toward the new environmental regulations.

3

There's so much apathy in this room that I don't even want to suggest a movie.

There's so much lack of interest in this room that I don't even want to suggest a movie.

Famille de mots

Nom
apathy
Adverbe
apathetically
Adjectif
apathetic
💡

Astuce mémo

Remember that 'a-' means 'without' (as in 'asymmetrical') and '-pathy' means 'feeling' (as in 'sympathy'). So, apathy literally means 'without feeling'.

Quiz rapide

The principal was concerned about the students' ____ toward the new school rules.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : apathy

Exemples

1

I was surprised by his apathy when I told him I was moving away after ten years.

everyday

I was surprised by his lack of emotion or interest when I told him I was moving away after ten years.

2

The government is struggling to overcome the widespread public apathy toward the new environmental regulations.

formal

The government is struggling to overcome the widespread public indifference toward the new environmental regulations.

3

There's so much apathy in this room that I don't even want to suggest a movie.

informal

There's so much lack of interest in this room that I don't even want to suggest a movie.

4

Scholars argue that voter apathy is not merely a sign of laziness but a reflection of systemic disillusionment.

academic

Scholars argue that the lack of interest in voting is not merely a sign of laziness but a reflection of systemic disillusionment.

5

Employee apathy can lead to a significant decrease in productivity and innovation within the firm.

business

Employee lack of enthusiasm can lead to a significant decrease in productivity and innovation within the firm.

Famille de mots

Nom
apathy
Adverbe
apathetically
Adjectif
apathetic

Collocations courantes

voter apathy Lack of interest among voters in participating in elections
widespread apathy Indifference that is common among a large group of people
public apathy General lack of concern from the community
overcome apathy To succeed in dealing with or controlling a lack of interest
sense of apathy A feeling of total indifference

Phrases Courantes

shaking off apathy

Taking action to stop being indifferent or lazy

steeped in apathy

Deeply affected by a lack of interest or concern

political apathy

Lack of interest in political activities or government affairs

Souvent confondu avec

apathy vs empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another, while apathy is the total absence of feeling or interest.

apathy vs sympathy

Sympathy is feeling pity or sorrow for someone else's misfortune; apathy is having no feeling at all toward a situation.

📝

Notes d'usage

Apathy is typically used in a negative context to criticize a lack of civic duty or emotional engagement. It is often followed by the prepositions 'toward' or 'about'.

⚠️

Erreurs courantes

Learners often use the word 'empathy' when they mean 'apathy' because they sound similar. Also, remember that 'apathy' is a noun; you cannot 'apathy' something (use 'be apathetic about' instead).

💡

Astuce mémo

Remember that 'a-' means 'without' (as in 'asymmetrical') and '-pathy' means 'feeling' (as in 'sympathy'). So, apathy literally means 'without feeling'.

📖

Origine du mot

Derived from the Greek 'apatheia', meaning 'freedom from suffering' or 'insensibility'.

Modèles grammaticaux

uncountable noun followed by 'toward' or 'towards' followed by 'about'
🌍

Contexte culturel

In many Western democracies, 'voter apathy' is a frequent topic of sociopolitical debate regarding low election turnout.

Quiz rapide

The principal was concerned about the students' ____ toward the new school rules.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : apathy

Mots lis

pale

A1

Describes something that has very little color or is much lighter than usual. It is often used to describe a person's face when they are ill or a color that is mixed with a lot of white.

lung

A1

The lungs are two organs inside your chest that you use to breathe. They bring oxygen into your body and remove carbon dioxide when you breathe out.

tropical

A1

Relating to the hot regions of the Earth near the equator. It describes weather that is very warm and wet, or plants and animals that come from these areas.

trader

A1

A trader is a person whose job is to buy and sell goods, stocks, or other items for profit. They can work in a small local market or on large international financial exchanges.

indoor

A1

Describes something that is located, happens, or is used inside a building rather than outside. It is an adjective used before a noun to talk about activities or objects protected from the weather.

threshold

A1

A threshold is the physical area at the bottom of a doorway that you step over to enter a room or building. It also refers to the level or point at which something starts to happen or changes.

tribute

A1

A tribute is something that you say, do, or give to show your respect and admiration for someone. It is often a public act used to honor a person's life, work, or memory.

elder

A1

Used to describe a person who is older than another, especially within a family. It is also used to refer to people who have a high status or more experience because of their age.

russian

A1

Relating to Russia, its people, its language, or its culture. It describes things that come from or are connected to the largest country in the world.

southeastern

A1

Located in or coming from the direction between south and east. It describes a place, a region, or a wind that is in the corner between the bottom and the right on a map.

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