uninterested
adjective
Disinterested vs. Uninterested: Usage Guide
Confusion about the meanings of disinterested and uninterested is longstanding and may be due to their tangled histories. When disinterested and uninterested entered the language in the 17th century, disinterested meant "not interested" and uninterested meant "not biased." Since then, the situation has all but reversed itself. Uninterested now means only "not interested."
Disinterested can mean either "not biased" or "not interested," but is most commonly used to mean "not biased."
However, disinterested is more common than uninterested in contexts that suggest a loss of interest.
Still, use of the "not interested" sense of disinterested will incur the disapproval of some who may not fully appreciate the history of this word or the subtleties of its present use.
Cite this Entry
“Uninterested.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uninterested. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.
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