indifferent
Americanadjective
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without interest or concern; not caring; apathetic.
his indifferent attitude toward the suffering of others.
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having no bias, prejudice, or preference; impartial; disinterested.
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neither good nor bad in character or quality; average; routine.
an indifferent specimen.
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not particularly good, important, etc.; unremarkable; unnotable.
an indifferent success; an indifferent performance.
- Synonyms:
- commonplace, uninspired, undistinguished, mediocre
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of only moderate amount, extent, etc.
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not making a difference, or mattering, one way or the other.
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immaterial or unimportant.
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not essential or obligatory, as an observance.
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making no difference or distinction, as between persons or things.
indifferent justice.
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neutral in chemical, electric, or magnetic quality.
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Biology. not differentiated or specialized, as cells or tissues.
noun
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an ethically or morally indifferent act.
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a person who is indifferent, especially in matters of religion or politics.
adverb
adjective
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(often foll by to) showing no care or concern; uninterested
he was indifferent to my pleas
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unimportant; immaterial
-
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of only average or moderate size, extent, quality, etc
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not at all good; poor
-
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showing or having no preferences; impartial
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biology
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(of cells or tissues) not differentiated or specialized
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(of a species) not found in any particular community
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Other Word Forms
- indifferently adverb
- quasi-indifferent adjective
- quasi-indifferently adverb
- superindifferent adjective
- superindifferently adverb
Etymology
Origin of indifferent
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English (adjective), from Latin indifferent-, stem of indifferēns; equivalent to in- 3 + different
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.
The company is so indifferent to its own archives that even the CEO didn’t know they existed.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
These trading relationships are quite indifferent to any trade-opening efforts with other parts of the world.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026
Despite Loughborough's indifferent season, Lutui leads the PWR standings in carries and metres in contact.
From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026
After an indifferent first half, along with the rest of his team, he made a good start to the second half, nabbing two turnovers in quick succession.
From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026
Pet was walking next to her, smoke rising off it like indifferent steam.
From "Pet" by Akwaeke Emezi
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.
