Indifferent Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ˌɪndɪˈfərənt/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Adjective

Definition

An indifferent person is one who has no strong feelings or emotions about something, neither favorably nor unfavorably disposed towards it.

Examples

1. “She appeared indifferent to the news of his promotion.”

2. “He was indifferent to the suggestion of going to the party.”

Synonyms

1. Apathetic

2. Unconcerned

3. Unimpressed

Antonyms

1. Enthusiastic

2. Excited

3. Concerned

Etymology

The word ‘indifferent’ originated from the Latin word ‘indifferens,’ which means ‘neither different nor similar,’ and is derived from the prefix ‘in-‘ meaning ‘not’ and the verb ‘differre’ meaning ‘to be different.’

Usage Notes

Indifferent can be used to describe a person’s attitude or behavior, as in ‘She was indifferent to the news.’ It can also be used to describe a lack of interest or concern, as in ‘He appeared indifferent to the suggestion of going to the party.’ However, be careful not to confuse it with ‘averse,’ which means ‘having a strong dislike or opposition,’ or ‘uninterested,’ which means ‘having no interest or concern.’

Cultural References

The word ‘indifferent’ has been used in various cultural references, such as in literature, music, and film. For example, in the novel ‘The Stranger’ by Albert Camus, the protagonist Meursault is described as being indifferent to the world around him.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

“Apathy” is often used interchangeably with ‘indifference,’ but they have slightly different connotations. ‘Apathy’ implies a lack of interest or concern, while ‘indifference’ implies a neutral or impartial attitude.

Related Words or Phrases

Indifferent is closely related to words such as ‘apathetic,’ ‘unconcerned,’ and ‘unimpressed.’

Collocations

‘Indifferent’ often collocates with words like ‘attitude,’ ‘behavior,’ ‘reaction,’ and ‘response.’

Frequency of Use

The word ‘indifferent’ is a relatively common adjective in modern English, often used in everyday conversations and written texts.

Common Misspellings

‘Indifferent’ is often misspelled as ‘indiferent’ or ‘indifrent.’ However, the correct spelling is ‘indifferent.’