Word
disinterested
Phoneticsdis·in·ter·est·ed
US/dɪˈsɪnɹɪstɪd/
UK/dˌɪsˈɪntɹəstɪd/
Definition
adj. not having any personal interest or concern in a situation. You use this to describe someone who is fair because they do not benefit from the result.
adj. unbiased or impartial, often in a legal or professional context. Refers to a lack of personal stake or self-interest in a matter.
Examples
“The judge was disinterested in the case.”
“The committee hired a disinterested third party to ensure the election results were counted fairly.”
“A disinterested observer might argue that the policy change was purely a matter of efficiency rather than a calculated attempt to gain political favor.”
Examples
simple
“The judge was disinterested in the case.”
contextual
“The committee hired a disinterested third party to ensure the election results were counted fairly.”
complex
“A disinterested observer might argue that the policy change was purely a matter of efficiency rather than a calculated attempt to gain political favor.”
Confusables
Disinterested means you have no personal stake in the outcome; uninterested means you find the subject boring.
RememberDisinterested = Judge. Uninterested = Bored.
Real-World Examples
“Police have often been deathly slow to respond or disinterested so small, usually rural and isolated, communities are left in fear.” “Disinterested officials generally reduce that figure, but even the most skeptical admit that there are countless thousands of part-time, or “plastic,” hippies who may “drop out” only for a night or two each week.” Etymology
From disinterest (“to cause to be impartial”, verb) + -ed (suffix forming past tense or past participle forms of verbs), or from dis- (prefix meaning ‘not’) + interested (“having a stake in; showing interest”, adjective).
From disinterest + -ed.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/disinterested