Meaning & Definition of word "Empathy"
Empathy
/ˈɛmpəθi/
noun:
- 1. The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
- Example: Her empathy for the victims of the disaster motivated her to volunteer at the shelter.
- 2. The capacity to place oneself in another's position.
- Example: Empathy is essential for building strong relationships and resolving conflicts.
- 3. A psychological and emotional understanding of another person's experiences.
- Example: They showed great empathy towards each other during their discussions about their personal struggles.
- 4. The act of relating to and resonating with the feelings of others.
- Example: His empathy allowed him to connect deeply with his clients, understanding their unique challenges.
Etymology
●Coined in the early 20th century from Greek 'empatheia' meaning 'passion, state of emotion'
Common Phrases and Expressions
walk a mile in someone's shoes:
To understand someone else's experiences and feelings.
put oneself in someone else's shoes:
To imagine what it would be like to be in someone else's situation.
Related Words
sympathy:
Feelings of pity and sorrow for someone's misfortune.
compassion:
Sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it.
Slang Meanings of empathy
Meaning: Having a heart
● Example Sentence: She really has a heart, showing empathy for everyone around her.
Meaning: Feeling someone's vibe
● Example Sentence: I’m feeling your vibe, got that empathy for what you're going through.