uninterested
Americanadjective
-
having or showing no feeling of interest; indifferent.
-
not personally concerned in something.
- Synonyms:
- unconcerned
adjective
Commonly Confused
See disinterested.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of uninterested
First recorded in 1640–50; un- 1 + interested
Explanation
Uninterested describes someone who doesn't pay attention or care. If you're uninterested in touring old homes and shopping for antiques, you might be bored on vacation with your aunt and her friends. The adjective uninterested is the one you'll use if you really don't care about something. You might be uninterested in the economics textbook chapter you keep trying to read, or uninterested in the celebrity gossip everyone is sharing. Uninterested is like bored. The Latin root word of interest is interresse, or to be of importance. So when something's not important to you, you're uninterested.
Vocabulary lists containing uninterested
Commonly Confused Words, List 3
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Commonly Confused Words, List 9
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List 6
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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.
Like Joshua, Itauma often appears uninterested in the theatrics of fight week.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
Gulbenkian followed his enthusiasms, uninterested in creating a coherent history lesson.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
But Kim may be uninterested in meeting Trump until after the US midterm elections in November so as to gain more leverage, Cha said in an email to AFP.
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
When people describe Gen Z as uninterested in going out, I wonder what exactly they’re looking at.
From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026
He was pointedly uninterested in Todd and Ronnie.
From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers
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.
