detached
Americanadjective
-
not attached; separated.
a detached ticket stub.
- Antonyms:
- attached
-
having no wall in common with another building (opposed to attached).
a detached house.
- Antonyms:
- attached
-
impartial or objective; disinterested; unbiased.
a detached judgment.
- Synonyms:
- unprejudiced, dispassionate, evenhanded, neutral, uninvolved
-
not involved or concerned; aloof.
adjective
-
disconnected or standing apart; not attached
a detached house
-
having or showing no bias or emotional involvement; disinterested
-
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
-
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
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of detached
Explanation
If something is detached, it stands apart from something else. That goes for people, emotions, retinas, garages, and just about anything else that can be disconnected or uninvolved. In the simplest sense, detached means "not attached." Which is a fine state to be in if you're talking about houses (it means they're not connected, like row houses) or your neighbor's aggressive dog (who was chomping down on your leg a few minutes ago). But if a person is emotionally detached, be careful: They're not in touch with their own emotions, or very interested in understanding yours.
Vocabulary lists containing detached
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 16–19
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A Monster Calls
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"A Noiseless Patient Spider" by Walt Whitman
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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 fears … are all detached from reality,” said Kevin Pratt, an executive with the developer Pacifico Energy, at the meeting.
From Salon • Jun. 6, 2026
"They had a very distant attitude," a spokesman for Portugal's GNR police force, Carlos Canatario, told Portuguese television station SIC, adding the pair appeared "detached".
From Barron's • May 23, 2026
The contradiction feels central to her work: local and global at once, deeply rooted yet emotionally detached.
From BBC • May 15, 2026
The home has an attached two-car garage, a garage for a golf cart, and a detached four-car garage with a carport.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026
Something large and furry detached itself, whimpering, from the new arrival and flung itself at Harry.
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
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.
