apathy
/ˈapəθi
/noun [mass noun]
Lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern: widespread apathy among students...
- Another reason for voter apathy is a lack of confidence in politicians.
- He also signalled the need for politicians to combat public apathy by re-establishing trust.
- The apathy and lack of compassion he describes, are also present in our own US health care system.
Synonyms
indifference, lack of interest, lack of enthusiasm, lack of concern, unconcern, uninterestedness, unresponsiveness, impassivity, passivity, passiveness, detachment, dispassion, dispassionateness, lack of involvement, phlegm, coolness;
listlessness, lethargy, languor, lassitude, torpor;
boredom, ennui, accidie
rare acedia, mopery
Origin
Early 17th century: from French apathie, via Latin from Greek apatheia, from apathēs 'without feeling', from a- 'without' + pathos 'suffering'.
pathetic from late 16th century:
‘Affecting the emotions’ was the early sense of pathetic which came via late Latin from Greek pathētikos ‘sensitive’, based on pathos ‘suffering’ (M17th in English). Apathy (early 17th century) is from apathēs ‘without feeling’, and empathy (from em- ‘in’ and pathos ‘feeling’) was coined by physiologists in the early 20th century. See also sympathy