empathy

 
Pronunciation: /ˈɛmpəθi/

noun

[mass noun]
  • the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

Derivatives

empathetic

Pronunciation: /-ˈθɛtɪk/
adjective

empathetically

Pronunciation: /-ˈθɛtɪk(ə)li/
adverb

empathic

Pronunciation: /ɛmˈpaθɪk/
adjective

empathically

Pronunciation: /ɛmˈpaθ-/
adverb

Origin:

early 20th century: from Greek empatheia (from em- 'in' + pathos 'feeling') translating German Einfühlung

People often confuse the words empathy and sympathy. Empathy means ‘the ability to understand and share the feelings of another’ (as in both authors have the skill to make you feel empathy with their heroines), whereas sympathy means ‘feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else’s misfortune’ (as in they had great sympathy for the flood victims).