indifferent
/ɪnˈdɪf.ər.ənt/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Not interested or not caring about something. It can also mean showing no strong feeling or preference.
- She seemed indifferent to the result.
- I am indifferent between tea and coffee.
- The teacher was indifferent to the noise.
Adinary Nuance
Indifferent is weaker and cooler than uninterested or uncaring. It suggests no strong feeling, not always deliberate dislike. For people, it can sound a little negative because it may suggest a lack of concern.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- thờ ơ
- Spanish
- indiferente
- Chinese
- 漠不关心
- Japanese
- 無関心な
- Korean
- 무관심한
Etymology
From Latin indifferentem, meaning 'not different' or 'without difference'. It came into English in the late Middle Ages.
Common phrases
indifferent toindifferent attituderemain indifferent
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is indifferent the same as uninterested?
- They are close, but indifferent is often stronger. It suggests you do not care much at all.
- Is indifferent polite?
- It can sound polite in some situations, but often it sounds cold or negative about a person.
- Can I say indifferent between two choices?
- Yes. It means you have no preference between them.