phatic Hear it!

phatic definition

phatic (fat′ik)

adjective

of, constituting, or given to formulistic talk or meaningless sounds that are used merely to establish social contact rather than to communicate ideas phatic expression

Etymology: < Gr phatos, spoken (< phanai, to speak: see phono-) + -ic

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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