English Meaning & Definitions
A state of indifference or lack of emotional concern regarding ethical issues, the suffering of others, or the distinction between right and wrong.
- “The witness's moral apathy toward the victim's plight shocked the jury.”
- “Widespread moral apathy in the corporate sector often leads to systemic corruption.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “moral apathy”.
The term combines 'moral' (from Latin 'moralis', pertaining to manners or character) and 'apathy' (from Greek 'apatheia', meaning 'freedom from suffering or passion'). Historically, 'apatheia' was a positive Stoic virtue representing indifference to external events, but in modern English, 'apathy' has shifted to denote a negative lack of interest or concern. 'Moral apathy' emerged in philosophical and sociological discourse to describe the specific failure to respond to ethical dilemmas.
Think of a 'moral' compass that has lost its 'path' (apathy) and is just spinning aimlessly, unable to point toward right or wrong.
Frequently Asked Questions About “moral apathy”
1. What is the meaning of “moral apathy” in English?
In English, moral apathy (noun) is defined as: “A state of indifference or lack of emotional concern regarding ethical issues, the suffering of others, or the distinction between right and wrong.”.
2. How do you use “moral apathy” in a sentence?
“The witness's moral apathy toward the victim's plight shocked the jury.”
3. What are English synonyms of “moral apathy”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “moral apathy”?
The term combines 'moral' (from Latin 'moralis', pertaining to manners or character) and 'apathy' (from Greek 'apatheia', meaning 'freedom from suffering or passion'). Historically, 'apatheia' was a positive Stoic virtue representing indifference to external events, but in modern English, 'apathy' has shifted to denote a negative lack of interest or concern. 'Moral apathy' emerged in philosophical and sociological discourse to describe the specific failure to respond to ethical dilemmas.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.