phatic

[ fat-ik ]

adjective

1. denoting speech used to express or create an atmosphere of shared feelings, goodwill, or sociability rather than to impart information:

   phatic communion.

phatic

/ ˈfætɪk /

adjective

1. (of speech, esp of conversational phrases) used to establish social contact and to express sociability rather than specific meaning

Word History and Origins

Origin of phatic¹

1923; probably < Greek phat ( ós ) spoken, capable of being spoken (verbid of phánai to speak; prophet ) + -ic; coined (in phrase phatic communion ) by Bronislaw Malinowski

Word History and Origins

Origin of phatic¹

C20: from Greek phat ( os ) spoken + -ic

Example Sentences

This characterization may sound interchangeable with the typical phatic praise you’d find in any novel’s introduction if you’re reading somewhat distractedly on an airplane as I initially was, but they are words that chill your blood when you stop to consider that the German Jewish culture from which Lion Feuchtwanger arose was being systemically extinguished in real time as he wrote this novel.

From Seattle Times

Unfortunately, they seem to have mastered all too well the arts of phatic speech and bromides.

From Slate

Known as phatic expressions, these closing niceties are used more for their social function than their literal meaning, McCulloch said, like asking someone “How are you?” because it’s the polite thing to do, not because you’re interested in a detailed breakdown of their mental health.

From Seattle Times

Gretchen McCulloch, a linguist who is writing a book about how the internet is changing language, said Snapchat lenses and filters were a form of what linguists call “phatic communication,” which is communication that is meant to ease social interactions instead of to convey information.

From New York Times

“That’s the purpose of the face filters or the geofilters in Snapchat — they provide a fun way to communicate these same kinds of phatic messages with pictures,” Ms. McCulloch said.

From New York Times