indifferent

[in-dif-er-uhnt, -dif-ruhnt]

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adjective

without interest or concern; not caring; apathetic: his indifferent attitude toward the suffering of others.

having no bias, prejudice, or preference; impartial; disinterested.

neither good nor bad in character or quality; average; routine: an indifferent specimen.

not particularly good, important, etc.; unremarkable; unnotable: an indifferent success; an indifferent performance.

of only moderate amount, extent, etc.

not making a difference, or mattering, one way or the other.

immaterial or unimportant.

not essential or obligatory, as an observance.

making no difference or distinction, as between persons or things: indifferent justice.

neutral in chemical, electric, or magnetic quality.

Biology. not differentiated or specialized, as cells or tissues.

noun

an ethically or morally indifferent act.

a person who is indifferent, especially in matters of religion or politics.

adverb

Archaic. indifferently: I am indifferent well.

Nearby words

Origin of indifferent

1350–1400; Middle English (adj.) < Latin indifferent- (stem of indifferēns). See in-³, different

SYNONYMS FOR indifferent

4. mediocre, undistinguished, uninspired, commonplace.

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Related forms

in·dif·fer·ent·ly, adverbqua·si-in·dif·fer·ent, adjectivequa·si-in·dif·fer·ent·ly, adverbsu·per·in·dif·fer·ent, adjective

su·per·in·dif·fer·ent·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for indifferently

I looked at him indifferently until he went into the church.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show|Robert W. Chambers|February 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"I can imagine how much it amused you," she said coldly and indifferently.
A Conspiracy of the Carbonari|Louise Mhlbach
So Gudrun left all such to her elder sister, and trusted in her implicitly, indifferently.
The Rainbow|D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence
Sultan growled and walked on indifferently, after he had shaken off the strange hand.
The Lamp That Went Out|Augusta Groner

I suppose so, said Bronston indifferently; Ill be with you in a minute.
Local Color|Irvin S. Cobb
She accepted his company without remonstrance, indifferently.
The Shooting of Dan McGrew, A Novel|Marvin Dana

British Dictionary definitions for indifferently

indifferent

adjective

(often foll by to) showing no care or concern; uninterestedhe was indifferent to my pleas

unimportant; immaterial

of only average or moderate size, extent, quality, etc
not at all good; poor

showing or having no preferences; impartial

biology

(of cells or tissues) not differentiated or specialized
(of a species) not found in any particular community

Derived Formsindifferently, adverb

Word Origin for indifferent

C14: from Latin indifferēns making no distinction

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

Word Origin and History for indifferently

indifferently

adv.

c.1400, from indifferent + -ly (2).

indifferent

adj.

late 14c., "unbiased," from Old French indifferent "impartial" or directly from Latin indifferentem (nominative indifferens) "not differing, not particular, of not consequence, neither good nor evil," from in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + differens, present participle of differre "set apart" (see differ). Extended sense of "apathetic" first recorded early 15c.; that of "neither good nor bad" 1530s, on notion of "neither more nor less advantageous."

Medicine definitions for indifferently

indifferent

[ĭn-dĭf′ər-ənt, -dĭf′rənt]

adj.

Characterized by a lack of partiality; unbiased.

Not active or involved; neutral.

Undifferentiated, as cells or tissue.

indifferent

adjective

noun

adverb

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Nearby words

Origin of indifferent

Examples from the Web for indifferently

indifferent

adjective

Word Origin for indifferent

indifferently

indifferent

indifferent

adj.