adjective
disinterested
dihs-IHNT-rihs-tihd
adjective
1
Having no personal stake in an outcome, and therefore able to judge it fairly.
"They asked a disinterested third party to referee the dispute."
"A judge is expected to remain disinterested in the cases they hear."
2
Not interested; bored or indifferent (a common but disputed use, treated by many as a mix-up with uninterested).
"He seemed completely disinterested in the meeting, checking his phone the whole time."
How to Use Disinterested
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishStrictly, "impartial" — having nothing personally to gain either way. Informally it also gets used to mean "not interested," which sticklers consider a mistake.
Common mistake
Careful writers keep disinterested (impartial) separate from uninterested (bored/not caring), even though everyday usage blurs the two.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
disinterested observer
disinterested party
disinterested advice
Word Forms
more disinterested comparative, most disinterested superlative
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They asked a _____ third party to referee the dispute.
Etymology
From disinterest ("to make impartial") plus -ed, or directly from dis- + interested.