indifferent
[in-dif-er-uhnt, -dif-ruhnt]
- 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.
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- an ethically or morally indifferent act.
- a person who is indifferent, especially in matters of religion or politics.
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- Archaic. indifferently: I am indifferent well.
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Origin of indifferent
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for indifferently
Contemporary Examples
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 ShowRobert W. Chambers
February 20, 2014
Historical Examples
"You are welcome to your opinion," returned Robert, indifferently.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
For I have seen a letter of his, and indifferently worded, as poorly spelt.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
"The lions have found that rhino," remarked Kingozi indifferently.
The Leopard WomanStewart Edward White
"Better let him go on in his own way," remarked the Judge, indifferently.
The UnderdogF. Hopkinson Smith
I recall but indifferently the lesser topics of conversation.
In the ValleyHarold Frederic
indifferent
- (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
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Word Origin
C14: from Latin indifferēns making no distinction
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for indifferently
adv.
c.1400, from indifferent + -ly (2).
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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."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
indifferent
(ĭn-dĭf′ər-ənt, -dĭf′rənt)- Characterized by a lack of partiality; unbiased.
- Not active or involved; neutral.
- Undifferentiated, as cells or tissue.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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