WordGarden.iodisinterestedly
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /dɪsˈɪnt(ə)rɛstɪdli/
US
- /dˌɪsˈɪntrɪstɪdli/
Meanings
Adverb
in an impartial or unbiased way
with little interest or attention
Beyond the definition
Imagine a judge presiding over a case. They need to listen to both sides disinterestedly – meaning without letting their own feelings or biases influence their decision. It doesn't mean they're uninterested; it means they are impartial, objective, and not personally involved in the outcome.
People often use "disinterested" when they mean "uninterested," especially in casual speech. If you're uninterested in a movie, you simply don't want to watch it. But if someone observes an argument disinterestedly, they're watching without taking sides. In careful writing, this "impartial" meaning is usually the safer choice. It's about remaining neutral and fair, even if the situation is exciting or upsetting.
To act disinterestedly means to behave in a way that shows impartiality, objectivity, and lack of personal involvement. It's often confused with "uninterestedly," but they have very different meanings. While "uninterested" implies a lack of interest or concern, "disinterested" suggests freedom from bias or self-interest.
Think about a scientist conducting an experiment. They need to record their observations disinterestedly, meaning without letting their expectations influence the results. Or consider a mediator trying to resolve a conflict – they must listen to both parties disinterestedly to reach a fair solution.
The adverb "disinterestedly" modifies verbs, describing how something is done. For example: "The reporter covered the story disinterestedly," meaning she presented the facts without revealing her own opinions. "He examined the evidence disinterestedly," suggesting he approached it with an open mind.
Historically, the word carried a stronger sense of being above personal concerns – almost noble or selfless. While that nuance is less common today, the core idea remains: disinterestedly describes behavior motivated by fairness and objectivity rather than personal gain or preference. It's about stepping back from any stake you might have in something to view it with clarity and neutrality.
Examples
- 1
Legal decision
The judge listened disinterestedly to both sides before making a decision.
- Caution
In careful English, disinterestedly usually means "in an unbiased way," not "without interest."
- 2
Complaint review
She reviewed the complaint disinterestedly and focused only on the facts.
- 3
Mediation
A good mediator has to speak disinterestedly, even when one side is clearly more sympathetic.
See also
Similar
- impartially
- objectively
- neutrally
Shades of meaning
- evenhandedly
- detachedly
Contrast
- self-interestedly
- partially
Do not confuse
- uninterestedly
Used with (collocations)
- judge disinterestedly
- evaluate disinterestedly
- view the evidence disinterestedly
Word family
- disinterested
- disinterest
Explore
- impartiality
- conflict of interest
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- disinterestedlyadverb