SYMPATHY

(UNDERSTANDING) [noun] [U] - (an expression of) understanding and care for someone else's sufferingThe president has sent a message of sympathy to the relatives of the dead soldiers.I don't really have much sympathy for people who've brought their troubles on themselves.He kept going on and on about his problems - I suppose he was just looking for a bit of sympathy.On the days when I have to walk with my stick, I get looks of sympathy from complete strangers.Compare empathy. (UK and ANZ informal) A sympathy vote is an occasion when a lot of people vote for or support a particular person because he or she has suffered recently.A sympathy vote for his recent illness won Andrew Davies an award for his latest novel.