'apathism' originates from Modern English, specifically formed from the word 'apathy' with the suffix '-ism', where the Greek prefix 'a-' meant 'not' and 'pathos' meant 'feeling' (or 'suffering').

'apathism' developed from Greek 'apatheia' → Late Latin 'apathia' → Old French 'apathie' → English 'apathy', and the modern English noun 'apathism' was later formed by adding the suffix '-ism' to 'apathy'.

Initially it referred to 'absence of feeling' (in philosophical contexts 'apatheia'), but over time it evolved into the more general modern meaning of 'lack of interest or enthusiasm'.