Vocabulary
Apathetic meaning: uninterested or unconcerned
Someone can sit through a discussion without asking a question, sharing an idea, or seeming to care about the result. Apathetic describes that lack of interest or concern.
Use apathetic for a person or group that shows little interest or concern, and distinguish it from being calm or tired.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
apathetic /ˌæp.əˈθet.ɪk/
The short answer
Apathetic means showing little interest, concern, or willingness to take part.
Several students seemed apathetic about the class project.
Why it works: They showed little interest in the project or in helping with it.
3 more examples
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The committee was apathetic about the proposed changes.
The committee showed little interest or concern about the changes.
Not this:The committee was
calm about the proposed changes. What changes: Calm means not worried or excited. The committee may still care deeply about the changes. -
After the long trip, Maya was tired, not apathetic.
Maya lacked energy after traveling. This sentence does not say that she lacked interest or concern.
Not this:Maya was
apathetic about the travel plans. What changes: Here, apathetic says that Maya showed little interest in the plans. -
The survey received an apathetic response from many residents.
Many residents showed little interest in responding to the survey.
Not this:The survey received
a brief responsefrom many residents. What changes: Brief describes length. It does not tell us how much the residents cared.
Read the full guide
Use apathetic when the missing interest or concern is the point. A person may be quiet, calm, or tired for many reasons, so those words do not mean apathetic by themselves.
Choose it when interest is missing
Apathetic points to a lack of interest or concern. Ask whether the person seems to care about the topic or wants to take part. If the answer is no, apathetic may fit.
The voters were apathetic about the local election.
This sentence says that the voters showed little interest in the election. It does not tell us why.
Do not confuse it with calm or tired
Calm describes a person's state. Tired describes a lack of energy. Either person may still care a great deal, so neither word means apathetic.
He was calm during the meeting, but he asked several careful questions.
Someone who is apathetic may stay silent because the topic does not seem to matter to them.
Use common patterns
Use apathetic about before a topic: apathetic about the results. You can also use apathetic toward a person, group, or issue. Before a noun, it can describe a response, attitude, or audience.
The manager was concerned about the apathetic response from the team.
Connect it with apathy
Apathy is the noun for the feeling or state of having little interest or concern. Apathetic is the adjective for a person, group, or response that shows apathy.
Public apathy made it hard to find volunteers for the event.
Use apathy to name the lack of interest. Use apathetic to describe who or what shows it.
Check the meaning in context
A colleague says little in a meeting because she has a fever and needs to rest. Is apathetic a good description?
Probably not. She may be tired or unwell. Use apathetic only if the context shows that she has little interest or concern about the meeting.
A group ignores repeated requests for ideas because they do not care which plan is chosen. Does apathetic fit?
Yes. Their lack of interest in choosing a plan makes apathetic a useful word.
Before you go
Remember this
Use apathetic for little interest or concern about something. Use calm for a relaxed state and tired for low energy. The related noun is apathy.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Apathetic meaning: uninterested or unconcerned"
What does apathetic mean?
Apathetic means showing little interest, concern, or willingness to take part in something.
The committee was apathetic about the proposed changes.
Is apathetic the same as calm?
No. Calm means relaxed or not worried. A calm person can care strongly about a situation, while an apathetic person shows little interest or concern.
The committee was calm about the proposed changes.
Is apathetic the same as tired?
No. Tired means lacking energy. Someone may be tired and still care about what is happening. Apathetic refers to a lack of interest or concern.
After the long trip, Maya was tired, not apathetic.
What is the noun form of apathetic?
The noun is apathy. Use apathy for the state or feeling of having little interest or concern, and apathetic to describe a person, group, or response.
Maya was apathetic about the travel plans.
How do you pronounce apathetic?
Say ap-a-THET-ic. The strongest beat is on THET. Use the lesson examples to choose the meaning and sentence pattern that fit your context.
The survey received an apathetic response from many residents.
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