The compassion meaning is simple to state: compassion is the feeling you have when you see someone suffering and you want to help make it better. It joins two things, noticing another person's pain and caring enough to do something about it.
The adjective is compassionate, which describes a person, an act or a decision shaped by that caring. This guide covers the definition of compassion, the word's Latin roots, example sentences, and the small but real differences between compassion, pity, sympathy and empathy.
Entry at a glance
Meaning
Concern for someone's suffering, with a wish to relieve itPart of speech
Noun (uncountable)Pronunciation
kuhm-PASH-uhnWord forms
compassionate (adjective), compassionately (adverb)Origin
Late Latin compati, to suffer with, through Old FrenchOpposite
Cruelty, callousness, indifferenceRegister
Neutral; common in speech, medicine, religion and law
Compassion meaning in plain English
To define compassion, picture two steps. First you notice that someone is hurting: they are grieving, sick, scared, poor or simply having an awful day. Second, you feel moved to help, even in a small way. When both steps are present, that is compassion.
Compassion is not the same as agreeing with the person or approving of what they did. A judge can show compassion to someone being sentenced, and a teacher can feel it for a student who failed a test through their own laziness. The word is about caring for the suffering, not about who is to blame.
It is an uncountable noun, so you say "great compassion" or "a lot of compassion", not "a compassion" or "compassions".
What compassionate means
A short compassionate definition: the meaning of compassionate is "showing or feeling compassion". A compassionate person tends to notice when others are struggling and responds with warmth. You can also use it for things a person does: a compassionate reply, a compassionate policy, a compassionate choice.
Some fixed phrases use it in a more technical way:
- Compassionate leave: time off work given when a close family member dies or is seriously ill. In the US the usual phrase is bereavement leave.
- Compassionate grounds: a reason to bend a rule because of someone's hardship, as in "released early on compassionate grounds".
- Compassionate use: in medicine, letting a very ill patient try a treatment that is not yet fully approved.
Examples of compassion in sentences
- The nurse spoke to the frightened boy with real compassion, kneeling so their eyes were level.
- Our manager showed compassion when my father was in hospital and told me to take the week.
- She felt deep compassion for the stray dog shivering outside the bus stop.
- A compassionate landlord might let a tenant who lost her job pay the rent a little late.
- He listened compassionately, without trying to fix anything.
Roots of compassion: suffering together
Mid fourteenth century English speakers borrowed compassion from Old French; the French had it from Late Latin compassio, from the verb compati, made of com- (with, together) and pati (to suffer). So the old literal sense is "suffering together with someone".
The Latin word was a loan translation of the Greek word that also gave English sympathy. That shared root is one reason the two words feel so close today. Patient and passion come from the same Latin verb for suffering.
Compassion, pity, sympathy and empathy
These four words overlap, but people often use them with slightly different shades:
| Word | Main idea | Typical tone |
|---|---|---|
| Compassion | Caring about suffering and wanting to help | Warm, active |
| Pity | Feeling sorry for someone, often from above | Can sound distant or slightly superior |
| Sympathy | Feeling sorry and sharing in someone's sadness | Kind, often formal (sympathy cards) |
| Empathy | Understanding how someone feels from the inside | Understanding, not always helping |
A handy way to remember it: empathy is feeling with someone, compassion adds a push to help. You can have empathy without compassion, for example if you understand a rival's pain but do nothing about it. Other caring words on this site include mercy, which is compassion shown by someone with power to punish, and benevolent, a general wish to do good.
How people use it at work, in care and in faith
In healthcare, compassion is often named as a core value. Doctors and nurses talk about "compassionate care", and burnout among carers is sometimes called compassion fatigue, the tiredness that comes from caring for people in pain for a long time.
Many religious traditions put compassion at the centre. Buddhism uses it to translate karuna, the wish for all beings to be free of suffering. Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Hindu and Sikh teachings also speak of mercy and compassion as qualities of God and duties of believers, each in its own language and framework.
In everyday chat, the word appears in phrases like "have compassion for", "show compassion to", "lack compassion" and "out of compassion".
Mistakes to avoid
- Wrong preposition: say compassion for or towards someone, not compassion of someone (unless you mean whose compassion it is: "the compassion of strangers").
- Spelling: two s letters, as in passion: compassion, compassionate.
- Overusing it for small things: you would not normally say you felt compassion because a friend's coffee was cold. It fits real hardship better.
For more words about inner life and how we treat others, browse the people and feelings section, including pages such as humility and grace.
Frequently asked questions
What is the definition of compassion in one line?
Compassion means feeling concern for someone who is suffering and wanting to help them. It combines understanding their pain with a wish to ease it.
Is compassion the same as empathy?
Not quite. Empathy is understanding or sharing what another person feels. Compassion goes a step further and includes the desire to help, so it is often described as empathy plus action.
What is the definition of compassionate?
To define compassionate simply: compassionate is the adjective form. It describes a person who shows compassion or an action done with care for someone's suffering, such as a compassionate doctor or a compassionate decision.
What is the opposite of compassion?
Common opposites are cruelty, callousness, coldness and indifference. Each one means either causing pain or not caring about it.
How do you pronounce compassion?
Say it kuhm-PASH-uhn, leaning hardest on PASH. The middle sounds like the word passion without the p.
Can compassion be a weakness?
Some people worry it can be, for example if someone takes advantage of a kind person. Most writers on the topic argue that compassion works best with clear limits, so you can care for others without being used or burning out.