dis|in|ter|est|ed

dis|in|ter|est|ed
dis|in|ter|est|ed «dihs IHN tuhr uhs tihd, -trihs-; -tuh REHS-», adjective.
1. free from selfish motives; impartial; fair: »

An umpire makes disinterested decisions. Never have statesmen needed so much the disinterested wisdom which a philosophic temper alone can give (Manchester Guardian).

 SYNONYM(S): unbiased, unprejudiced.
2. not interested; unconcerned; uninterested: »

A disinterested pupil can spoil a class. He was tired, preoccupied, disinterested (Dayton Rommel).

–dis|in´ter|est´ed|ly, adverb.
–dis|in´ter|est´ed|ness, noun.
Usage Disinterested and uninterested can be used to make a useful distinction of meaning. Uninterested means having no concern about the matter and paying no attention: »

I find it difficult to entertain anyone so uninterested in everything I suggest doing.

In careful usage, disinterested means having no reason or desire to be anything but strictly impartial and fair: »

A judge should be disinterested.

Increasingly, however, disinterested is being used with the meaning of uninterested. Because of this, it is wise to make sure that context makes the intended meaning of disinterested unmistakable.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • dis|in´ter|est´ed|ly — dis|in|ter|est|ed «dihs IHN tuhr uhs tihd, trihs ; tuh REHS », adjective. 1. free from selfish motives; impartial; fair: »An umpire makes disinterested decisions. Never have statesmen needed so much the disinterested wisdom which a philosophic… …   Useful english dictionary

  • dis|in|ter|est — «dihs IHN tuhr ihst, trihst», noun, verb. –n. 1. lack of interest; indifference; unconcern: »Her disinterest in music was due to a boring teacher. What Kafka typifies, of course, is a disinterest in character as such (American Scholar). 2.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • dis|in´ter|est´ed|ness — dis|in|ter|est|ed «dihs IHN tuhr uhs tihd, trihs ; tuh REHS », adjective. 1. free from selfish motives; impartial; fair: »An umpire makes disinterested decisions. Never have statesmen needed so much the disinterested wisdom which a philosophic… …   Useful english dictionary

  • dis·in·ter·est — /dısˈıntrəst/ noun [noncount] 1 : lack of interest His proposal was met with complete disinterest. often + in Their disinterest in politics is obvious. 2 : the quality or state of not being influenced by personal feelings, opinions, or concerns… …   Useful english dictionary

  • dis·in·ter·est·ed — …   Useful english dictionary

  • ter — ter; ter·a·con·ic; ter·a·cryl·ic; ter·a·glin; ter·aph; ter·as; ter·a·tism; ter·a·to·genesis; ter·a·to·gen·ic; ter·a·to·log·i·cal; ter·a·tol·o·gist; ter·a·tol·o·gy; ter·a·to·ma; ter·a·to·sis; ter·bi·um; ter·centennial; ter·centesimal; ter·ce·ron;… …   English syllables

  • disinterested — dis•in•ter•est•ed [[t]dɪsˈɪn təˌrɛs tɪd, trɪ stɪd[/t]] adj. 1) unbiased by personal interest or advantage; not influenced by selfish motives 2) not interested; indifferent • Etymology: 1605–15 dis•in′ter•est ed•ly, adv. dis•in′ter•est ed•ness, n …   From formal English to slang

  • disinterest — dis|in|ter|est [ dıs ıntrəst ] noun uncount a lack of interest in something …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • disinterested — dis|in|ter|est|ed [ dıs ıntrəstəd ] adjective 1. ) not involved in something and therefore able to judge it fairly: IMPARTIAL: a disinterested witness and observer disinterested advice 2. ) not interested. Many people think that this use of the… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • disinterest — dis•in•ter•est [[t]dɪsˈɪn tər ɪst, trɪst[/t]] n. 1) apathy; indifference 2) to divest of interest • Etymology: 1605–15 …   From formal English to slang

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