indifferent
ihn-DIHF-ruhnt
Indifferent (adj) means having no particular interest, concern, or preference. Example: “He seemed indifferent to whether they won or lost.”
adj
1
Having no particular interest, concern, or preference.
"The scientific worker aims at knowledge and is quite indifferent whether people like or dislike the knowledge he produces."
— Herbert George Wells, Intellectual Antagonism to the Modern State (1933)
"He seemed indifferent to whether they won or lost."
"I am indifferent between the two plans."
2
Mediocre; neither good nor bad.
"The reviews called the meal indifferent at best."
How to use indifferent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot caring much, or (less commonly) just so-so in quality.
Common pairings
remain indifferent
an indifferent performance
indifferent to the outcome
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Word forms
- Plural
- indifferents
- Comparative
- more indifferent
- Superlative
- most indifferent
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He seemed _____ to whether they won or lost.
Etymology
From Old French indifferent, from Latin indifferens, from in- ("not") + differens ("differing").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for indifferent
See all rhymes for indifferent →Frequently asked questions
What does “indifferent” mean?
The word “indifferent” means having no particular interest, concern, or preference. In plain terms, not caring much, or (less commonly) just so-so in quality.
How do you pronounce “indifferent”?
“Indifferent” is pronounced ihn-DIHF-ruhnt (/ɪnˈdɪf.ɹənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “indifferent” in a sentence?
Here is “indifferent” used in a sentence: “He seemed indifferent to whether they won or lost.”
What part of speech is “indifferent”?
“Indifferent” is an adjective.
Where does the word “indifferent” come from?
The word “indifferent” comes from Latin. From Old French indifferent, from Latin indifferens, from in- ("not") + differens ("differing").
Is “indifferent” a common word?
“Indifferent” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “indifferent” have?
“Indifferent” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having no particular interest, concern, or preference.
