indifferent

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

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR indifferent ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

Origin of indifferent

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

Related formsin·dif·fer·ent·ly, adverbqua·si-in·dif·fer·ent, adjectivequa·si-in·dif·fer·ent·ly, adverbsu·per·in·dif·fer·ent, adjectivesu·per·in·dif·fer·ent·ly, adverb

Synonyms for indifferent

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR indifferent ON THESAURUS.COM

4. mediocre, undistinguished, uninspired, commonplace.

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

Related Words for indifferently

inadequately, nonchalantly, casually, coolly, poorly

Examples from the Web for indifferently

Contemporary Examples of 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

Historical Examples of indifferently

"You are welcome to your opinion," returned Robert, indifferently.
Brave and Bold
Horatio 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 Woman
Stewart Edward White
"Better let him go on in his own way," remarked the Judge, indifferently.
The Underdog
F. Hopkinson Smith
I recall but indifferently the lesser topics of conversation.
In the Valley
Harold Frederic

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

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."

indifferently in Medicine

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.