sad

Sad is an adjective used to describe one of the basic human emotions: a feeling of sorrow, unhappiness, or disappointment in response to loss, failure, or unfavorable events. It can vary in intensity from mild dissatisfaction to deep grief and may occur in individuals of all ages and cultures.

Symptoms often include a lowered mood, reduced interest in usual activities, or tearful or subdued behavior, though physical responses vary. Sadness is typically temporary and context-driven, unlike chronic mood disorders that persist for weeks or months.

In psychology, sadness is considered a normal affective state that signals a need for support and reflection. It can promote social bonding, empathy, and problem-solving. Clinically, it is distinguished from depression or grief in duration, pervasiveness, and impairment.

Etymology traces the word "sad" to Old English sad, meaning sorrowful, and it has cognates in several Germanic languages. Over time, its use broadened to cover a wider range of negative emotional states beyond simple sorrow.

In culture, sadness is a common subject in literature, music, and film, where it can articulate personal or collective experience. In modern communication, the term is used descriptively and emotionally, and digital media provide tools to express or regulate sadness, such as emojis and messaging.