adjective
disinterested
dihs-IHNT-rihs-tihd
Disinterested (adjective) means having no personal stake in an outcome, and therefore able to judge it fairly. Example: “They asked a disinterested third party to referee the dispute.”
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
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more disinterested
- Superlative
- most disinterested
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They asked a _____ third party to referee the dispute.
Etymology
From disinterest ("to make impartial") plus -ed, or directly from dis- + interested.
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for disinterested
vested
rested
invested
arrested
detested
untested
requested
congested
contested
interested
uninterested
See all rhymes for disinterested →
Frequently asked questions
What does “disinterested” mean?
The word “disinterested” means having no personal stake in an outcome, and therefore able to judge it fairly. In plain terms, strictly, "impartial" — having nothing personally to gain either way. Informally it also gets used to mean "not interested," which sticklers consider a mistake.
How do you pronounce “disinterested”?
“Disinterested” is pronounced dihs-IHNT-rihs-tihd (/dɪsˈɪnt(ə)ɹəstəd/ in IPA).
How do you use “disinterested” in a sentence?
Here is “disinterested” used in a sentence: “They asked a disinterested third party to referee the dispute.”
What part of speech is “disinterested”?
“Disinterested” is an adjective.
How many meanings does “disinterested” have?
“Disinterested” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having no personal stake in an outcome, and therefore able to judge it fairly.
