What does indifferent mean?
Indifferent describes a lack of concern, emotional involvement, or preference. A person who is indifferent to an outcome does not regard it as important and may show calm detachment, although the word can sometimes imply apathy or even callousness. In legal, academic, and formal contexts, it can also mean impartial: an indifferent judge tries to treat competing arguments without favouring either side. A less common literary sense describes something without distinguishing features or significance, such as an indifferent landscape or an indifferent mark. The word is related to indifference, the state of being unconcerned, and indifferently, the adverb describing such conduct. Although indifference is sometimes confused with disinterest, the latter can carry a more approving meaning when it refers to impartiality. Indifferent is especially useful for distinguishing emotional neutrality from active preference or opposition.
Not caring about, showing no preference for, or being unaffected by something; neutral or impartial in manner.
"The committee was indifferent to the candidate's nationality and selected her on the basis of her experience."
The sense of impartiality is common in formal contexts, while the sense of lack of concern may imply apathy or emotional detachment.
Lacking distinction, importance, or special quality.
"The painting presented an indifferent expanse of sky and water."
This sense is chiefly literary, formal, or archaic.
Indifferent literally carries the idea of making no difference: its Latin roots combine a negative prefix with the verb meaning “to differ.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does indifferent come from?
Indifferent entered English in the late Middle English period through the French indifférent. The French word came from Latin indifferens, a present participle of indifferre, meaning “to make no difference between.” Latin indifferens was formed from the negative prefix in- and differre, “to differ.” Its modern senses developed from the older idea of being unbiased or making no distinction to the more familiar sense of showing no concern or preference.
Related word forms
How indifferent is actually used
In its most common sense, indifferent can describe a lack of concern and may suggest apathy or emotional detachment. When used of a person acting as a judge, it can mean impartial. The sense meaning insignificant or undistinguished is now mainly literary, formal, or archaic.
Easily confused with indifferent
Indifferent usually suggests a lack of concern or emotional involvement, whereas disinterested can positively mean impartial and free from bias.
Different means unlike something else, while indifferent means unconcerned, neutral, or unaffected.