phatic

[ fat-ik ]
/ ˈfæt ɪk /

adjective

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

Origin of phatic

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

Words nearby phatic

phasing, phasis, phasmid, phasor, phat, phatic, phaënna, phaëthon, phc, phd, phe

British Dictionary definitions for phatic

phatic
/ (ˈfætɪk) /

adjective

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

Word Origin for phatic

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