disinterested

Part of Speech: Adjective

Pronunciation: /dɪsˈɪntrəstɪd/, /ˌdɪsɪnˈtɪərɪstɪd/

Definitions

• Unbiased by personal interest; impartial.
• Having no interest or concern in something; indifferent.

Usage Examples

• The judge remained disinterested throughout the trial.
• She was disinterested in the latest gossip.
• A disinterested observer can offer a more objective analysis.

Etymology

From Latin dis- (apart) + interest (concern), first recorded in the early 17th century.

Synonyms

• Impartial
• Unbiased
• Neutral
• Objective
• Detached

Antonyms

• Biased
• Interested
• Partial
• Engaged
• Prejudiced

Translations

Regional Pronunciation Variations

• British English: /dɪsˈɪntrəstɪd/
• American English: /ˌdɪsɪnˈtɪərɪstɪd/

Historical Usage

Originally used to denote impartiality, the word later evolved to signify a lack of interest in the 18th century.

Cultural Nuances

Disinterested is often mistakenly used as a synonym for uninterested, though the former denotes impartiality and the latter means lack of interest.

More Information

In legal and ethical contexts, disinterested individuals are those who can provide unbiased opinions without personal stakes in the outcome.