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apathy

noun/ˈæp.ə.θi/

definition

lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern

example

The community's apathy towards the upcoming elections has raised concerns about voter turnout.

synonyms
indifferenceunconcerndisinterest
word origin — From the French 'apathie', stemming from the Greek 'apatheia', meaning 'lack of emotion'.

apathy, prodigy, combustion, scenario, injection: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from TOEFL Vocabulary set 29. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

  1. apathy · noun/ˈæp.ə.θi/

    lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern

    The community's apathy towards the upcoming elections has raised concerns about voter turnout.

    Synonyms: indifference, unconcern, disinterest

    Origin: From the French 'apathie', stemming from the Greek 'apatheia', meaning 'lack of emotion'.

  2. prodigy · noun/ˈprɑː.dɪ.dʒi/

    a young person with exceptional talent or ability

    The young violinist was hailed as a musical prodigy, captivating audiences with her extraordinary talent from a very young age.

    Synonyms: genius, wonder, marvel

    Origin: from Latin 'prodigium' meaning 'omen, portent' and 'prodigus' meaning 'extravagant, prodigal'.

  3. combustion · noun/kəmˈbʌʃ.ən/

    a chemical reaction that occurs when a substance combines with oxygen to produce heat and light

    The combustion of fossil fuels is a major contributor to air pollution and climate change.

    Synonyms: burning, ignition, fire

    Origin: Originates from Latin 'combustio', meaning 'burning', from 'comburere', where 'com-' means 'together' and 'urere' means 'to burn'.

  4. scenario · noun/səˈnɛrioʊ/

    a hypothetical situation or sequence of events

    In a worst-case scenario, we might have to evacuate the entire building due to the fire drill.

    Synonyms: situation, case, hypothesis

    Origin: The word 'scenario' comes from the Italian 'scenari', which is derived from 'scena', meaning scene. It was adopted into English in the late 19th century.

  5. injection · noun/ɪnˈdʒɛkʃən/

    the act of forcing a substance into something else

    The doctor recommended an **influenza injection** to protect against the flu this season.

    Synonyms: inoculation, infusion, shot

    Origin: The word 'injection' comes from the Latin 'iniectio', which is derived from 'inijicere', meaning 'to throw in' ('in-' meaning 'into' and 'iacere' meaning 'to throw').