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 27-year-old has been England's one consistent player in their indifferent World Cup so far, delivering with either ball or bat in every match.
From Barron's
Those who are supportive of or indifferent to the Fed’s large-balance-sheet policy argue it’s inevitable and inoffensive—a harmless consequence of changes in the financial plumbing since the 2008 panic.
Our public school system can likewise seem indifferent toward identifying, studying and replicating successful education models.
Inconveniently for the anti-Shriver crowd, many readers enjoy Shriver’s novels, whether they are aware of, supportive of or indifferent to her politics.
“Why did you give no hint that night / That quickly after the morrow’s dawn, / And calmly, as if indifferent quite, / You would close your term here, up and be gone.”
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.
