disinterested en · ADJ · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- (General-American) audio
- /(ˌ)dɪsˈɪntɹɪstɪd/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /(ˌ)dɪsˈɪnt(ə)ɹɛstɪd/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /dɪsˈɪnt(ə)ɹəstəd/ (General-American)
- (Received-Pronunciation) audio
- /-ɾ(ə)ɹ-/ (General-American)
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).
Meanings
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Having no interest or stake in the outcome, and no conflicts of interest; free of bias, impartial.
This was a case for disinterested benevolence; no pay was expected, but considerable risk incurred; yet we could not decline it, […]
1865, David Livingstone, Charles Livingstone, chapter XIII, in Narrative of an Expedition to the Zambesi and Its Tributaries; and of the Discovery of the Lakes Shirwa and Nyassa. 1858–1864, London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, page 275:Sir, you have a right to that kind of respect, and are arguing for yourself. I am for ſupporting the principle, and am diſintereſted in doing it, as I have no ſuch right.
1791, James Boswell, quoting Samuel Johnson, “[1772]”, in James Boswell, editor, The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. […], volume I, London: […] Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly, […], →OCLC, page 356:[P]hilosophers of the time [early 20th century] were primarily concerned with epistemology and the foundations of the sciences; they often spoke as if we were separated from the real world by a screen of "representations" or "sense-data"; they tended to regard our approach to the world as one of disinterested observation.
2014 April 12, Michael Inwood, “Martin Heidegger: the philosopher who fell for [Adolf] Hitler [print version: Hitler’s philosopher]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Review section), London: Telegraph Media Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 06 Jan 2026, page R10:People are better off abjuring violence, if everyone else agrees to do so, and vesting authority in a disinterested third party.
2011, Steven Pinker, The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence has Declined, New York, N.Y.: Penguin Books, published 2012, →ISBN, page 220:"I don't mind going if a lunch is provided," observed the gentleman with the excrescence on his nose. "But I must be fed, if I make one." Another laugh. "Well, I am the most disinterested among you, after all," said the first speaker, "for I never wear black gloves, and I never eat lunch. But I'll offer to go, if anybody else will.[…]"
1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave Four. The Last of the Spirits.”, in A Christmas Carol. […], London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 125:With his disinterested passion for art, he had a real desire to call the attention of the wise to a talent which was in the highest degree original; but he was too good a journalist to be unaware that the "human interest" would enable him more easily to effect his purpose.
1919, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, chapter I, in The Moon and Sixpence, [New York, N.Y.]: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers […], →OCLC, page 9:[W]e ought to try our compoſures this vvay; by vvhich the ſoul, receiving them more remotely, conveyed to the ear by the voice, and from this returned to her, as it vvere, from abroad, and that onely in a tranſient ſound, ſits novv as the moſt diſintereſted Arbiter, and impartial judge of her ovvn vvorks, that ſhe can be.
1659, [Obadiah Walker], “Sect[ion] VIII”, in Some Instructions Concerning the Art of Oratory. […], London: […] J[ohn] G[rismond] for R[ichard] Royston, […], →OCLC, paragraph 4, page 115:[E]very one pretended to Right and Liberty, and to publick Good, and made loud Noiſes of their unbiaſs'd Juſtice, diſintereſted Actings, and vaſt Moderation, and yet vvere all fighting and ſnarling for Dominion over one another.
1708 May 19 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], “Saturday, May 8. 1708 [Julian calendar].”, in A Review of the State of the British Nation, volume V, number 18, [Edinburgh?]: [s.n.], →OCLC, page 71, column 1:
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(often, proscribed) Synonym of uninterested (“not interested; not concerned; indifferent”).
The Mariners, vvhen in ſome furious Tempeſt they are upon point of ſinking, hovv are they amazed at the rage of the vvatry Element? […] hovv diſintereſted are they of all vvorldly matters, ſince they fling their vvealth and riches into the Sea, for vvhich they have run ſuch hazard?
1672, Eusebius Nieremberg [i.e., Juan Eusebio Nieremberg], “How the Elements and the Heavens are to Change at the End of Time”, in Vivian Mullineaux, transl., A Treatise of the Difference betwixt the Temporal and Eternal: […], [London]: [s.n.], →OCLC, page 188:[Thomas H.] Fields [Jr.] and his club guard against bullies getting in to learn the lethal art, and he says he can spot them. Those spotted are usually taught so slowly that they grow disinterested and quit.
1967 March 5, Tommy Frazer, “Monroe doctor teaches karate with feet action”, in Vicksburg Sunday Post, volume LXXXIV, number 64, Vicksburg, Miss.: Vicksburg Printing & Publishing Co., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 18, column 3:[I]f there be caſes, vvherein the party is diſ-intereſted, and only or primarily the glory of God is reſpected and advanced, it [suicide] may be lavvfull.
1608 (date written), John Donne, “Distinction IV. Sect[ion] I.”, in ΒΙΑΘΑΝΑΤΟΣ [Biathanatos]. A Declaration of that Paradoxe, or Thesis, that Selfe-homicide is Not So Naturally Sinne, that It May Never Be Otherwise. […], London: […] Iohn Dawson, published [1644–1647?], →OCLC, 2nd part, page 99:Robin took to wandering again, to intermittent travel from which she came back hours, days later, disinterested.
1936, Djuna Barnes, “La Somnambule”, in Nightwood (New Classics), New York, N.Y.: New Directions Books, published [1946], →OCLC, page 61:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| more disinterested | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most disinterested | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Antonyms
undisinterested · interested · curious · biased · fascinated · interested · partisan · undisinterested · nondisinterested · nondisinterested · prejudiced
Deriveds
disinterestedly · undisinterested · disinterestedness · nondisinterested
Synonyms
disinteressed · unimpressible · unconcerned · clinical · unprepossessed · disinteressed · torpedinous · world-weary · nonpartisan · objective · detached · imprejudicate · neuter · unprejudiced · nonpartial · otiose · unaroused · nonchalant · ineffervescible · dull · impartial · uncaring · candid · torpid · unenthusiastic · equal · blasé · unbiased · equitable · impassive · listless · imprejudicate · lukewarm · apathetic · tepid · nonplussed · indifferent · unbigoted · cool · lackadaisical · fair-minded · adiaphroistic · enervated · nonpersonal · Laodicean · unlively · lethargic · indifferent · lotophagous · apathistical · cold · mopey · spiritless · fairhanded · blithe · unzealous · insensible · dispassionate · detached · unmoved · indistinguishing · insouciant · unpartisan · untouched · egal · nonaligned · incurious · supine · unpartial · languorous · shiftless · phlegmatic · languid · neutral · uninterested · uninterested · meh · halfhearted · uninterested · pococurante · gallionic · evenhanded · uninterested · disinterested · unbiased · deaf · unconcerned · jaded · unaroused · dispassionate · heartless
Translations (30)
pl bezinteresowny (having no interest or stake in the outcome, and no conflicts of interest) · ru незаинтересо́ванный (having no interest or stake in the outcome, and no conflicts of interest) · sh непристрасан (having no interest or stake in the outcome, and no conflicts of interest) · es desinteresado (having no interest or stake in the outcome, and no conflicts of interest) · bg безкористен (having no interest or stake in the outcome, and no conflicts of interest) · uk безкори́сливий (having no interest or stake in the outcome, and no conflicts of interest) · ru беспристра́стный (having no interest or stake in the outcome, and no conflicts of interest) · el αφιλοκερδής (having no interest or stake in the outcome, and no conflicts of interest) · hu pártatlan (having no interest or stake in the outcome, and no conflicts of interest) · pt desinteressado (having no interest or stake in the outcome, and no conflicts of interest) · ro dezinteresat (''synonym of'' uninterested ''(cognates)'') · sv ojävig (having no interest or stake in the outcome, and no conflicts of interest) · ca desinteressat (''synonym of'' uninterested ''(cognates)'') · es desinteresal (''synonym of'' uninterested ''(cognates)'') · sh nepristrasan (having no interest or stake in the outcome, and no conflicts of interest) · cmn 無私 /无私 (having no interest or stake in the outcome, and no conflicts of interest) · uk незаціка́влений (having no interest or stake in the outcome, and no conflicts of interest) · de unparteiisch (having no interest or stake in the outcome, and no conflicts of interest) · cmn 超然 (having no interest or stake in the outcome, and no conflicts of interest) · fi puolueeton (having no interest or stake in the outcome, and no conflicts of interest) · de desinteressiert (''synonym of'' uninterested ''(cognates)'') · hu elfogulatlan (having no interest or stake in the outcome, and no conflicts of interest) · es desinteresado (''synonym of'' uninterested ''(cognates)'') · ru бескоры́стный (having no interest or stake in the outcome, and no conflicts of interest) · pl bezstronny (having no interest or stake in the outcome, and no conflicts of interest) · es desinteresal (having no interest or stake in the outcome, and no conflicts of interest) · ca desinteressat (having no interest or stake in the outcome, and no conflicts of interest) · nl belangeloos (having no interest or stake in the outcome, and no conflicts of interest) · fr désintéressé (having no interest or stake in the outcome, and no conflicts of interest) · cmn 公正 (having no interest or stake in the outcome, and no conflicts of interest)