detached

[dih-tacht]

adjective

1. not attached; separated.

   a detached ticket stub.

   Antonyms: attached

2. having no wall in common with another building (attached ).

   a detached house.

   Antonyms: attached

3. impartial or objective; disinterested; unbiased.

   a detached judgment.

   Synonyms: unprejudiced, dispassionate, evenhanded, neutral, uninvolved

4. not involved or concerned; aloof.

detached

/ dɪˈtætʃt /

adjective

1. disconnected or standing apart; not attached

   a detached house

2. having or showing no bias or emotional involvement; disinterested

3. social welfare working at the clients' normal location rather than from an office; not dependent on premises for providing a service Compare outreach

   a detached youth worker

4. ophthalmol (of the retina) separated from the choroid layer of the eyeball to which it is normally attached, resulting in loss of vision in the affected part

Other Word Forms

• detachedly adverb
• detachedness noun
• undetached adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of detached¹

First recorded in 1700–10; detach + -ed ²

Example Sentences

“The studio was detached, and we had to enter through a gate.”

From Los Angeles Times

On his podcasts and elsewhere, Maron has spoken at length about growing up with narcissistic, emotionally detached parents and how that dynamic likely laid the groundwork for his problematic sense of self.

From Los Angeles Times

The judges said: "A novel about class ascension and a man who is remarkably detached from his desires, and a disquisition on the art of being alive. It is also an absolute page-turner."

From BBC

Lifelong fan Scott Detki, who acknowledged feeling more detached from the Bruins than usual, said he would be driven to learn about a successful team.

From Los Angeles Times

"It's a world they have always chosen to remain detached from, to whose construction they did not consent, and one that will change their place in their homeland forever."

From BBC

Related Words

• abstract 
• casual 
• dispassionate 
• distant 
• impartial 
• impersonal 
• indifferent 
• laid-back 
• remote 
• removed 
• unbiased