English Reference
Noun

disdain

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced US /dɪsˈdeɪn/ UK /dɪsdˈeɪn/ dis·dain UK spelling disdained, disdains

n.the feeling that someone or something does not deserve your respect. You feel this when you think something is low-quality or not worth your time.

n.a feeling of contempt or lack of respect for someone or something regarded as unworthy or inferior.


SIMPLE

She looked at the messy room with disdain.

CONTEXTUAL

The experienced chef treated the frozen ingredients with visible disdain, insisting on fresh produce for every dish.

COMPLEX

His open disdain for the local customs made it difficult for him to build the trust necessary for a successful diplomatic mission.

Usage

Often paired with the preposition 'for' ('disdain for something').

Indeed the player's agent Fernando Hidalgo has been open with his disdain towards how his client has been treated this summer.

BBC News· 24 Aug 2026

In contrast, the fault-lines in Ange and Tony’s marriage are savagely revealed in his disdain of her, as much as she tries to cover it up with fake cheeriness.

The Guardian· 20 Aug 2026

From Middle English disdeynen, from Old French desdeignier (modern French dédaigner).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Old French desdeignier
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated