indifference

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

noun

1. lack of interest or concern:

   We were shocked by their indifference toward poverty.

   Antonyms: eagerness, responsiveness

2. unimportance; little or no concern:

   Whether or not to attend the party is a matter of indifference to him.

3. the quality or condition of being indifferent.
4. mediocre quality; mediocrity.
5. 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.

indifference

/ -fərəns; ɪnˈdɪfrəns /

noun

1. the fact or state of being indifferent; lack of care or concern
2. lack of quality; mediocrity
3. lack of importance; insignificance
4. See principle of indifference
   See principle of indifference

Other Words From

• super·in·differ·ence noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of indifference¹

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

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Over the next 50 minutes, the character takes indifference to task with blistering monologues and soulful musical interludes.

From 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.

From 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.

From 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.

From 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.

From Washington Blade

The result can be the indifference that appears so chilling in the Garner video.

From The Daily Beast

While some may classify that inactivity as laziness or indifference, Brown suggests the contrary.

From The 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.

From The Daily Beast

Her indifference astonished Clark, who has been a cop for 29 years.

From The Daily Beast

Two basic characteristics not related to memory are apathy and indifference or callousness.

From The Daily Beast

A like indifference to the position of a picture, and of a letter, has been observed among backward races.

From Project Gutenberg

Lady Victoria's earlier mood of colossal indifference had been dissipated by her son's return.

From Project Gutenberg

Three hours ago you had never seen me, and now you swear my indifference will kill you.

From Project Gutenberg

Baroudi accepted all these attentions with a magnificent indifference that had in it nothing of assumption.

From Project Gutenberg

Under the guise of apparent indifference his mind kept the Canadian under constant observation.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• alienation
• apathy
• callousness
• carelessness
• disdain
• disinterest
• disregard
• inattention
• inertia
• insensitivity
• lack
• negligence
• nonchalance