TOP

Definition of disinterested adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

disinterested

adjective
 
/dɪsˈɪntrəstɪd/,
 
/dɪsˈɪntrestɪd/
 
/dɪsˈɪntrəstɪd/,
 
/dɪsˈɪntrestɪd/
jump to other results
  1. not influenced by personal feelings, or by the chance of getting some advantage for yourself synonym impartial, objective, unbiased
    • a disinterested onlooker/spectator
    • Her advice appeared to be disinterested.
    • I was merely a disinterested spectator in the whole affair.
    More Like This Words that look like opposites, but aren’tWords that look like opposites, but aren’t
  2. (informal) not interested
    Which Word? interested / interesting / uninterested / disinterested / uninterestinginterested / interesting / uninterested / disinterested / uninteresting
    • The opposite of interested is uninterested or not interested:
      • He is completely uninterested in politics.
      • I am not really interested in politics.
    • Disinterested means that you can be fair in judging a situation because you do not feel personally involved in it:
      • A solicitor can give you disinterested advice.
      However, in speech it is sometimes used instead of uninterested, although this is thought to be incorrect.
    • The opposite of interesting can be uninteresting:
      • The food was dull and uninteresting.
      It is more common to use a different word such as dull or boring.
    Topics Feelingsc2
    3. Word Originearly 17th cent.: past participle of the rare verb disinterest ‘rid of interest or concern’, from dis- (expressing removal) + interest.
See disinterested in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee disinterested in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: disinterested

Nearby words

halfway
adverb
 
 
From the Word list
Oxford 5000
C1
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day