noun
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pathos
PAY-thos
Pathos (noun) means a quality in something that stirs feelings of pity or sadness. Example: “The film's ending was full of quiet pathos.”
noun
1
A quality in something that stirs feelings of pity or sadness.
"The film's ending was full of quiet pathos."
2
In rhetoric, an appeal to the audience's emotions to persuade them.
"The speech relied heavily on pathos rather than facts."
How to use pathos
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe emotional pull of something — the quality that makes you feel sympathy or sadness.
Common pairings
a sense of pathos
appeal to pathos
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Word forms
- Plural
- pathoses
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The film's ending was full of quiet _____.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek pathos, "suffering" or "feeling."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for pathos
See all rhymes for pathos →Frequently asked questions
What does “pathos” mean?
The word “pathos” means a quality in something that stirs feelings of pity or sadness. In plain terms, the emotional pull of something — the quality that makes you feel sympathy or sadness.
How do you pronounce “pathos”?
“Pathos” is pronounced PAY-thos (/ˈpeɪˌθɑs/ in IPA).
How do you use “pathos” in a sentence?
Here is “pathos” used in a sentence: “The film's ending was full of quiet pathos.”
What part of speech is “pathos”?
“Pathos” is a noun.
Where does the word “pathos” come from?
The word “pathos” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek pathos, "suffering" or "feeling.".
How many meanings does “pathos” have?
“Pathos” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a quality in something that stirs feelings of pity or sadness.
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