Advertisement

indifference (n.)

mid-15c., "quality of being neither good nor bad, neutral quality," from Latin indifferentia "want of difference, similarity," abstract noun from indifferentem (see indifferent). From late 15c. as "lack of prejudice, impartiality;" from 1650s as "state of being apathetic." Meaning "comparative mediocrity, inexcellence"" is from 1864.

Entries related to indifference

indifferent (adj.)
late 14c., "unbiased, impartial, not preferring one to the other" (of persons), "alike, equal" (of things), from Old French indifferent "impartial" or directly from Latin indifferentem (nominative indifferens) "not differing, not particular, of no consequence, neither good nor evil," from in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + differens, present participle of differre "set apart" (see differ). Extended sense of "apathetic, no more inclined to one thing than to another" first recorded early 15c.; that of "neither good nor bad" is from 1530s, on notion of "neither more nor less advantageous," but since 17c. it has tended toward "rather bad."

Others are reading

Advertisement
Advertisement
Definitions of indifference from WordNet

indifference (n.)
unbiased impartial unconcern;
indifference (n.)
apathy demonstrated by an absence of emotional reactions;
Synonyms: emotionlessness / impassivity / impassiveness / phlegm / stolidity / unemotionality
indifference (n.)
the trait of lacking enthusiasm for or interest in things generally;
Synonyms: apathy / numbness / spiritlessness
indifference (n.)
the trait of remaining calm and seeming not to care; a casual lack of concern;
Synonyms: nonchalance / unconcern
From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near indifference

indiction

indictive

indictment

indie

Indies

indifference

indifferent

indifferently

indigence

indigency

indigene

© 2001-2021 Douglas Harper