Disinterested — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /(ˌ)dis-ˈin-trə-stəd/ dis·in·ter·est·ed

Meaning & Definition of Disinterested

Disinterested (adjective)

  1. free from selfish motive or interest, unbiased
  2. not having the mind or feelings engaged, not interested; also, not showing interest

Disinterested (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having or showing a lack of interest or concern

    "the city's philistines, naturally disinterested in art, voted to cut the museum's budget"

    similar: apathetic, casual, complacent, incurious, indifferent, insensible, insouciant, nonchalant, perfunctory, pococurante, unconcerned, uncurious, uninterested
    related: halfhearted, lukewarm, tepid, aloof, cold, numb, remote, unemotional, callous, hard-hearted, insensitive, unfeeling, calm, cool, detached, dispassionate, careless, heedless, mindless, impassive, impervious, phlegmatic, stoic, stolid, lethargic, listless, unimpressed
    opposite: concerned, interested
    near: attentive, aware, conscientious, heedful, mindful, caring, sensitive, warmhearted, ardent, fervent, keen, passionate, warm, zealous

  2. marked by justice, honesty, and freedom from bias

    "a judge who is widely respected for his disinterested decisions"

    similar: candid, dispassionate, equal, equitable, evenhanded, fair, impartial, indifferent, just, nonpartisan, objective, square, unbiased, unprejudiced
    related: frank, forthright, open, straight, straightforward, balanced, rational, reasonable
    opposite: biased, ex parte, inequitable, nonobjective, one-sided, partial, parti pris, partisan, prejudiced, unjust
    near: deceitful, deceptive, dishonest, arbitrary, unconscionable, unreasonable, jaundiced, unfriendly, unsympathetic, colored, distorted, warped

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Disinterested

The most common words with a similar meaning to Disinterested:

apathetic, casual, complacent, incurious, indifferent, insensible, insouciant, nonchalant, perfunctory, pococurante, unconcerned, uncurious, uninterested, candid, dispassionate, equal, equitable, evenhanded, fair, impartial, just, nonpartisan, objective, square, unbiased, unprejudiced

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Disinterested

Words with the opposite meaning of Disinterested:

concerned, interested, biased, ex parte, inequitable, nonobjective, one-sided, partial, parti pris, partisan, prejudiced, unjust

Related Words for Disinterested

halfhearted, lukewarm, tepid, aloof, cold, numb, remote, unemotional, callous, hard-hearted, insensitive, unfeeling, calm, cool, detached, careless, heedless, mindless, impassive, impervious, phlegmatic, stoic, stolid, lethargic, listless, unimpressed, frank, forthright, open, straight

Near Antonyms of Disinterested

attentive, aware, conscientious, heedful, mindful, caring, sensitive, warmhearted, ardent, fervent, keen, passionate, warm, zealous, deceitful, deceptive, dishonest, arbitrary, unconscionable, unreasonable, jaundiced, unfriendly, unsympathetic, colored, distorted, warped

Word Forms of Disinterested

Derived words: disinterestedly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Disinterested

First known use: circa 1631

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Disinterested

Frequently Asked Questions about Disinterested

What does "Disinterested" mean?

"Disinterested" means free from selfish motive or interest, unbiased. As an adjective, it is defined as: free from selfish motive or interest, unbiased. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Disinterested"?

Other words for "Disinterested" include apathetic, casual, complacent, incurious, indifferent, insensible, insouciant and nonchalant. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Disinterested" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Disinterested"?

There are 60 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Disinterested". Common alternatives include apathetic, casual, complacent, incurious, indifferent, insensible, insouciant, nonchalant, perfunctory and pococurante.

What is the opposite of "Disinterested"?

Antonyms of "Disinterested" include concerned, interested, biased, ex parte, inequitable, nonobjective, one-sided and partial. Near antonyms include attentive, aware, conscientious and heedful.

How do you use "Disinterested" in a sentence?

Examples of "Disinterested" in a sentence: "the city's philistines, naturally disinterested in art, voted to cut the museum's budget"; "a judge who is widely respected for his disinterested decisions".

Is "Disinterested" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Disinterested" is an adjective.

Is "Disinterested" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Disinterested" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Disinterested"?

"Disinterested" is pronounced /(ˌ)dis-ˈin-trə-stəd/ and divided into syllables as dis·in·ter·est·ed.