I. (ˈ)in|difərnt, ənˈd-, -f(ə)rənt, - R sometimes -fənt adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, that is looked upon as not mattering one way or another, from Latin indifferent-, indifferens neither good nor bad, unconcerned, from in- in- (I) + different-, differens, present participle of differre to carry apart, be different — more at different
1. : marked by impartiality : unbiased , unprejudiced
an indifferent judge in a trial
the jurors remained indifferent
a remarkably indifferent critic
2.
a.
(1) : that is looked upon as not mattering one way or another : that is regarded as being of no significant importance or value : that is viewed with neutrality
what others think is altogether indifferent to him
(2) : that actually does not matter one way or another : that actually lacks significant importance or value : that is of little consequence : that is unimportant or immaterial
whether you choose to do it or not is a matter that is quite indifferent
b. : that has nothing that calls for sanction or condemnation in either observance or neglect : that may be done or not done or observed or not observed with no importance or value one way or the other
ceremonies that are considered essential in some religious sects and indifferent in others
revived an indifferent custom
3.
a.
(1) : marked by no special liking for or dislike of something
she always seemed indifferent to the arrival of visitors
(2) : marked by no special preference for one thing over another : not inclined to one thing more than another
was indifferent to their acceptance or rejection of her invitation
were indifferent about which book you would decide to give them
b. : marked by a total or nearly total lack of interest in or concern about something : dully unconcerned or unfeeling : unmoved , listless , apathetic
was indifferent to suffering and poverty
remained indifferent to her pleas
seemed unaffected and quite indifferent in the presence of beauty
4. : neither excessive nor defective (as in size, extent, intensity) : moderate , average
had of couple of hills of indifferent height to climb
the wind was blowing with a negligible indifferent strength
inherited an indifferent fortune
5.
a.
(1) : neither good nor bad : deserving neither praise nor censure : passable , mediocre , unimpressive
does indifferent work at the office
turned in an indifferent performance of the role
(2) : that has a morally neutral nature : that is neither right nor wrong
many human acts are viewed as indifferent
b. : not very good : rather bad : fairly poor : inferior
with an indifferent voice like hers she shouldn't even attempt singing
has indifferent qualifications for the job
6. now chiefly dialect : marked by poor general health : sickly
7. : characterized by lack of active quality : neutral
an indifferent chemical
the indifferent part of a magnet
8.
a. : undifferentiated
indifferent tissues of the human body
b. : capable of development in more than one direction
indifferent blastema cells
especially : not yet embryologically determined
Synonyms:
unconcerned , incurious , aloof , detached , uninterested , disinterested : indifferent , often interchangeable with others of this group, may imply uninterested neutrality of attitude or marked lack of feeling, inclination, preference, or prejudice
a soldier rigidly bound by his oath to the state and indifferent to the political ends to which his services might be put — Gordon Harrison
nature had no sympathy with our hopes and fears, and was completely indifferent to our fate — L.P.Smith
to be indifferent to any circumstances — to be quite thoughtless as to drafts and chills, careless of heat — Richard Jefferies
unconcerned suggests personal lack of interest, feeling, or being moved or worried or otherwise affected, perhaps arising from insensitiveness, selfishness, or stoicism
how could one, knowing the warmth and beauty of living bodies, of all the glory and tenderness the world might show, go plodding unconcerned through life; go plodding unconcerned yoked to a life and a companionship unvarying, savorless, and without hope of gusto — James Boyd
incurious may suggest lack of normal curiosity or of intellectual capacity for interest
indifferent to technique, abnormally incurious, in fact, of all the means of the literary art — Van Wyck Brooks
the faintly pained, heavy, incurious unamazement of cattle — R.P.Warren
aloof applies to a show of indifference arising from great temperamental reserve, a cold, forbidding character, or a sense of superiority or disdain
with a glassily aloof expression as though afraid he might be subjected to some unwelcome, impertinent advance by strangers — Claud Cockburn
always quite aloof from the ordinary social life of the town — Arnold Bennett
detached may indicate a calm objective lack of feeling coming from absence of prejudice or selfishness
Iceland, which cool island remained a little detached about the war — Rose Macaulay
looking at him with a peculiarly detached and interested air — Sherwood Anderson
from the cool and detached point of view she had attained, life appeared to her to be essentially comic — Ellen Glasgow
uninterested simply indicates the fact of lack of interest
uninterested in the election
disinterested is often used with this general meaning despite efforts to restrict its application to objectivity, freedom from personal interests, especially financial, and impartiality
teaching the letters of the alphabet to her wiggling and supremely disinterested little daughter — C.L.Sulzberger
the disinterested advice of a parting friend, who can possibly have no personal motive to bias his counsels — J.C.Fitzpatrick
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : one that is indifferent (as in religion or politics)
b. : a morally indifferent act
2. : a plant or a kind of plant (as a species) that has relatively unspecialized requirements and may occur more or less by chance in a variety of habitats or ecological communities — compare indicator 5
III. adverb
archaic : indifferently