Definition

Indifferent refers to the state of being uninterested or unconcerned about a particular thing, or having no preference or bias towards something.

Pronunciation

US English

UK English

Part of Speech

Adjective

Synonyms

apathetic, unconcerned, uninterested, disinterested, detached, impartial, neutral, uncaring, uninvolved, bored.

Antonyms

concerned, interested, passionate, enthusiastic, involved, biased, prejudiced, opinionated, partial.

Word Forms

Part of Speech Words
Noun indifference, indifferences
Verb None
Adjective indifferent
Adverb indifferently

Example Sentences

  • The man appeared indifferent to the news of his father’s death.

  • She was indifferent to the opinions of her classmates and followed her own path.

  • The teacher tried to remain impartial and indifferent to any biases in the classroom.

  • He has an indifferent attitude towards the success of his company, which worries his colleagues.

Usage

The word indifferent comes from the Latin word “indifferens,” meaning “not making a difference.” The prefix “in-” means “not,” while the suffix “-ent” indicates a state of being or condition.

Indifferent is used to describe someone who has no strong feelings either way or does not care about something. This lack of concern could refer to a particular situation, person, or topic. For example, you might say that a friend was completely indifferent to the music at a concert, or that a student was indifferent to their grades in school.

The word indifferent can also be used to describe a state of being impartial or unbiased. For instance, a judge may try to remain indifferent to any emotions or biases he or she may have to ensure a fair trial. Similarly, a journalist might need to remain indifferent to any personal opinions in order to report the news objectively.

There are a few variations of the word indifferent, including “indifferently” (adverb) and “indifference” (noun). These words are used to describe actions or attitudes that reflect a lack of interest, concern, or emotion. For example, you could say that a person listened indifferently to a conversation or that someone displayed indifference to a political event.

In addition, there are some related words that have similar meanings to indifferent, such as “apathetic,” “unconcerned,” and “disinterested.” However, each of these words has slightly different connotations and may be used in slightly different ways depending on the context. Overall, indifferent is a versatile adjective that can be used to describe a wide range of attitudes or behaviors.