disinterest
Americannoun
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lack of interest; indifference.
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the absence of bias or self-interest; impartiality.
verb (used with object)
noun
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freedom from bias or involvement
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lack of interest; indifference
verb
Etymology
Origin of disinterest
Explanation
Disinterest is a lack of curiosity or attachment, like your complete disinterest in your younger sister's scene-by-scene recap of the plot of her favorite cartoon. One kind of disinterest is simply a lack of enthusiasm, like your disinterest in sports or local politics: you just don't care. Another kind of disinterest is more of a neutrality or impartiality. A mediator, judge, or negotiator needs this type of disinterest in order to hear two opposing viewpoints without prejudice. Disinterest comes from the prefix dis-, "lack of," and interest, from the Latin interresse, "to concern, make a difference, or be of importance."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Hanks said the cast related to the storyline because they had all "met that disinterest" of young people who "look down at their phone, look up, look down, look up".
From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026
Daniel Remler, who led AI policy at the State Department during the Biden administration and took part in the Geneva talks, cast doubt on Chinese claims of disinterest in AGI and ignorance of its risks.
From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026
"The problem is disinterest from all governments since 2011," Zabtia said.
From Barron's • Jan. 16, 2026
Describing “Tron: Ares” as a box office flop is an understatement – more like, it crashed into the public’s disinterest and burst into thousands of tiny cubes.
From Salon • Dec. 14, 2025
Quickly she righted herself, but in that moment she saw him glance toward her, then look away in disinterest.
From "Son" by Lois Lowry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
