Word of the day: Callous

Callous describes someone who shows little or no care about other people’s feelings. In simple terms, if a person is callous, they seem emotionally cold or insensitive, especially when others are hurt or upset.

This word is commonly used, especially in news reports, conversations about behavior, and opinion writing. You might hear it when someone reacts harshly to a serious situation.

Callous usually refers to a person’s attitude or behavior. It means being emotionally hardened, uncaring, or lacking sympathy. It often appears before a noun, such as “a callous remark” or “a callous response.” It can also describe a person directly, like “He was callous about the situation.”


The word has a clearly negative tone. Calling someone callous is a criticism, it suggests they are unkind or emotionally detached when compassion is expected.

Part of speech: Adjective

Origin/Etymology: The word comes from the Latin callosus, meaning “hard-skinned.” Originally, it described skin that had become thick and tough. Over time, the meaning expanded to describe someone who is emotionally “thick-skinned” in a bad way, hardened and insensitive.

Example sentences:

• Her callous comments about the accident shocked everyone in the room.
  
• It was callous of him to laugh while others were clearly upset.
  

In everyday conversations, people use “callous” when discussing insensitive behavior, for example, a politician making a harsh statement after a tragedy, or a friend dismissing someone’s feelings. In media and journalism, it often appears in headlines criticizing public figures for lacking empathy.

In short, callous describes a person or action that shows a lack of care or sympathy. It’s a commonly used word with a negative tone, rooted in the idea of being “hard”, not physically, but emotionally.