Meaning of indifferent in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Classifying Adjective
    1. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /ɪnˈdɪf(ə)rənt/

    US accent Play button

    UK accent Play button

  1. Classifying Adjective

    indifferent

    Definitions

    1. marked by a lack of interest

    Examples

    • « an apathetic audience »
    • « the universe is neither hostile nor friendly »
    • « it is simply indifferent »

    Synonyms

  2. 2. showing no care or concern in attitude or action

    Examples

    • « indifferent to the sufferings of others »
    • « indifferent to her plea »

    Synonyms

  3. 3. (often followed by `to') lacking importance

    Examples

    • « not mattering one way or the other »
    • « whether you choose to do it or not is a matter that is quite immaterial (or indifferent) »
    • « what others think is altogether indifferent to him »

    Synonyms

  4. 4. fairly poor to not very good

    Examples

    • « has an indifferent singing voice »
    • « has indifferent qualifications for the job »

    Synonyms

  5. 5. having only a limited ability to react chemically

    Examples

    • « not active »
    • « inert matter »
    • « an indifferent chemical in a reaction »

    Synonyms

  6. 6. marked by no especial liking or dislike or preference for one thing over another

    Examples

    • « indifferent about which book you would give them »
    • « was indifferent to their acceptance or rejection of her invitation »

    Synonyms

  7. 7. characterized by a lack of partiality

    Examples

    • « a properly indifferent jury »
    • « an unbiased account of her family problems »

    Synonyms

  8. 8. neither good nor bad

    Examples

    • « an indifferent performance »
    • « a gifted painter but an indifferent actor »
    • « her work at the office is passable »
    • « a so-so golfer »
    • « feeling only so-so »
    • « prepared a tolerable dinner »
    • « a tolerable working knowledge of French »

    Synonyms

  9. 9. neither too great nor too little

    Examples

    • « a couple of indifferent hills to climb »

    Synonyms

Famous quotes

  • « A commercial society whose members are essentially ascetic and indifferent in social ritual has to be provided with blueprints and specifications for evoking the right tone for every occasion. »
    Marshall McLuhan
  • « Tell him, on the contrary, that he needs, in the interest of his own happiness, to walk in the path of humility and self-control, and he will be indifferent, or even actively resentful. »
    Irving Babbitt
  • « The work of art assumes the existence of the perfect spectator, and is indifferent to the fact that no such person exists. »
    E. M. Forster
  • « Nature is indifferent to the survival of the human species, including Americans. »
    Adlai E. Stevenson
  • « Education: the inculcation of the incomprehensible into the indifferent by the incompetent. »
    John Maynard Keynes

Browse dictionary