phatic

phat ic |ˈfatik ˈfædɪk | ▶adjective denoting or relating to language used for general purposes of social interaction, rather than to convey information or ask questions. Utterances such as hello, how are you? and nice morning, isn't it? are phatic. ORIGIN 1920s: from Greek phatos ‘spoken ’ or phatikos ‘affirming. ’

phatic

phatic |ˈfatɪk | ▶adjective denoting or relating to language used for general purposes of social interaction, rather than to convey information or ask questions. Utterances such as hello, how are you? and nice morning, isn't it? are phatic. ORIGIN 1920s: from Greek phatos ‘spoken ’ or phatikos ‘affirming ’.