indifference

[ in-dif-er-uhns, -dif-ruhns ]

/ ɪnˈdɪf ər əns, -ˈdɪf rəns /

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noun

lack of interest or concern: We were shocked by their indifference toward poverty.

unimportance; little or no concern: Whether or not to attend the party is a matter of indifference to him.

the quality or condition of being indifferent.

mediocre quality; mediocrity.

Baseball. the absence of effort by the defense to prevent a stolen base: For the second time this inning, a Brewer has taken second base on indifference.

OPPOSITES FOR indifference

1 eagerness, responsiveness.

See antonyms for indifference on Thesaurus.com

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of indifference

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, variant of indifferency, from Latin indifferentia; see origin at indifferent, -ence, -ency

synonym study for indifference

1. Indifference, unconcern, listlessness, apathy, insensibility all imply lack of feeling. Indifference denotes an absence of feeling or interest; unconcern, an absence of concern or solicitude, a calm or cool indifference in the face of what might be expected to cause uneasiness or apprehension; listlessness, an absence of inclination or interest, a languid indifference to what is going on about one; apathy, a profound intellectual and emotional indifference suggestive of faculties either naturally sluggish or dulled by emotional disturbance, mental illness, or prolonged sickness; insensibility, an absence of capacity for feeling or of susceptibility to emotional influences.

OTHER WORDS FROM indifference

su·per·in·dif·fer·ence, noun

Words nearby indifference

indiction, indictment, indie, Indienne, Indies, indifference, indifferency, indifferent, indifferentism, indigence, indigene

How to use indifference in a sentence

Over the next 50 minutes, the character takes indifference to task with blistering monologues and soulful musical interludes.
Arena Stage returns to live performances with an outdoor production of the rousing ‘Fannie Lou Hamer, Speak on It!’|Thomas Floyd|October 30, 2020|Washington Post
Early in October, Kavanaugh wrote a brief concurring opinion in Andino, the ballot witness case, which reads like a manifesto of indifference to whether voters are disenfranchised.
If the Supreme Court decides the election, it will likely all come down to Brett Kavanaugh|Ian Millhiser|October 30, 2020|Vox
Designing devices that are more easily recycled and tackling the throw-away culture that treats the growing problem with indifference are both equally vital in slowing the oncoming tsunami.
We’re Using Microbes to Clean Up Toxic Electronic Waste. Here’s How|Sebastien Farnaud|August 20, 2020|Singularity Hub
With Spain’s tourism industry reeling and the economy on its knees, some voters are on edge and any perceived political indifference could hurt the weak minority government that relies on separatists to stay in power.
Europe is at a turning point as COVID cases spike, and fragile governments feel the heat|Bernhard Warner|August 20, 2020|Fortune

Intended to rally outrage about the indifference of the federal government to the epidemic of that time, the words called forth three decades of LGBTQ activism that brought unimaginable change.
‘Silence = Death, VOTE’|Jeff Trammell and Charles Francis|August 8, 2020|Washington Blade
The result can be the indifference that appears so chilling in the Garner video.
‘I Can’t Breathe!’ ‘I Can’t Breathe!’ A Moral Indictment of Cop Culture|Michael Daly|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
While some may classify that inactivity as laziness or indifference, Brown suggests the contrary.
Deepwater Horizon: Life Drowning in Oil|Samuel Fragoso|November 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With “the heart of a son, a brother, a father,” he said, the pope demanded that these people move on from indifference to tears.
Pope Francis vs. The Warmongers|Barbie Latza Nadeau|September 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Her indifference astonished Clark, who has been a cop for 29 years.
The Black Widow of Silicon Valley|Michael Daly|July 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Two basic characteristics not related to memory are apathy and indifference or callousness.
Does Donald Sterling Have Dementia? And Does That Make Him Any Less of a Racist?|Robert Silverman|May 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A like indifference to the position of a picture, and of a letter, has been observed among backward races.
Children's Ways|James Sully
Lady Victoria's earlier mood of colossal indifference had been dissipated by her son's return.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
Three hours ago you had never seen me, and now you swear my indifference will kill you.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846|Various
Baroudi accepted all these attentions with a magnificent indifference that had in it nothing of assumption.
Bella Donna|Robert Hichens
Under the guise of apparent indifference his mind kept the Canadian under constant observation.
Three More John Silence Stories|Algernon Blackwood

British Dictionary definitions for indifference

indifference

/ (ɪnˈdɪfrəns, -fərəns) /

noun

the fact or state of being indifferent; lack of care or concern

lack of quality; mediocrity

lack of importance; insignificance

See principle of indifference

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

indifference

OPPOSITES FOR indifference

Origin of indifference

synonym study for indifference

OTHER WORDS FROM indifference

Words nearby indifference

Words related to indifference

How to use indifference in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for indifference