Indifference: meaning, definitions and examples

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indifference

 

[ ɪnˈdɪf(ə)r(ə)ns ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

feeling

Lack of interest, concern, or sympathy. The state of being neutral or uninvolved in a situation. The quality of showing no emotion or concern.

Synonyms

apathy, detachment, disinterest, unconcern.

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Word Description / Examples
indifference

Use when someone does not care about or feel any interest in a particular issue, event, or activity.

  • His indifference to the team's loss was surprising
  • Their indifference towards the community project showed their lack of involvement
apathy

Use when someone shows a lack of emotion, enthusiasm, or concern, often implying a deeper, more pervasive lack of interest or motivation.

  • The apathy among the students made it difficult to encourage participation
  • She was criticized for her apathy towards important social issues
unconcern

Use when someone is not worried or bothered by something, often indicating a casual or carefree attitude.

  • His unconcern about the approaching deadline worried his team
  • She showed unconcern for the risk and proceeded without caution
disinterest

Use when someone has no interest in something, often implying a lack of bias or partiality.

  • Her disinterest in office politics helped her stay focused on her work
  • The judge's disinterest ensured a fair trial
detachment

Use when someone maintains an emotionally distant and objective standpoint, often implying a deliberate effort to remain uninvolved.

  • His professional detachment allowed him to make impartial decisions
  • She observed the situation with a sense of detachment

Examples of usage

  • She was surprised by his indifference towards her problems.
  • The politician's indifference to the suffering of his people was shocking.
  • His indifference to the outcome of the game was evident in his lack of reaction.
  • I was hurt by her indifference towards my feelings.
  • The teacher's indifference towards the students' struggles was disheartening.

Translations

Translations of the word "indifference" in other languages:

🇵🇹 indiferença

🇮🇳 उदासीनता

🇩🇪 Gleichgültigkeit

🇮🇩 ketidakpedulian

🇺🇦 байдужість

🇵🇱 obojętność

🇯🇵 無関心 (むかんしん)

🇫🇷 indifférence

🇪🇸 indiferencia

🇹🇷 kayıtsızlık

🇰🇷 무관심 (mugansim)

🇸🇦 اللامبالاة

🇨🇿 lhostejnost

🇸🇰 ľahostajnosť

🇨🇳 冷漠 (lěngmò)

🇸🇮 brezbrižnost

🇮🇸 afskiptaleysi

🇰🇿 немқұрайдылық

🇬🇪 უყურადღებობა

🇦🇿 laqeydlik

🇲🇽 indiferencia

Etymology

The word 'indifference' originated from the Latin word 'indifferentia,' which means 'lack of difference' or 'neutrality.' It entered the English language in the late 14th century. Over time, 'indifference' has come to represent a lack of interest or concern in various contexts, reflecting a sense of detachment or apathy.

See also: differ, difference, differences, different, differential, differentiation, differently, differing, indifferent, indifferentiable.

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,651 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.