disinterest

/dɪsˈɪntrəst/ (bre, ipa) · [dɪsˈɪntɚəst] /dɪsˈɪntrəst/ (ame, ipa) · [dɪsˈɪntɚəst] /(ˌ)dis-ˈin-trəst How to pronounce disinterest (audio) -ˈin-tə-ˌrest How to pronounce disinterest (audio) -tə-rəst,  -tərst; -ˈin-ˌtrest/ (ame, mw)

disinterest — noun

1. a state of not caring much about a person, subject, or activity

1.名詞C1
釋義

a state of not caring much about a person, subject, or activity

例句

Nia showed disinterest in football and brought a novel to the match.

disinterest in + noun

Public disinterest kept the museum's late-night science talks half empty all winter.

public disinterest in an event or activity

同義詞
  • indifference

    broader and often colder, especially when care is expected

  • apathy

    stronger, suggesting lack of energy or will to respond

  • boredom

    focuses on feeling tired because something fails to hold attention

反義詞

文法句型

disinterest in + noun

show disinterest

meet with disinterest

用法筆記

Often follows verbs like show, feel, and meet with. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is simple lack of curiosity or involvement, not fairness that comes from being outside the issue.

常見錯誤

❌The students had disinterest during the lesson.
✅The students showed disinterest during the lesson.
💡This noun is more natural with verbs like show, express, or meet with than after plain have.

2. a position outside a matter, which lets someone judge it without favoring either

2.名詞C2
釋義

a position outside a matter, which lets someone judge it without favoring either side

例句

The board trusted Michael's disinterest because he owned no shares in the company.

disinterest because there is no personal gain

A mediator's disinterest helped both families accept the final plan.

同義詞
  • impartiality

    the closest formal synonym, stressing fair judgement

  • neutrality

    broader, often used for positions or institutions as well as people

  • objectivity

    stresses judging by facts rather than personal feeling

反義詞

文法句型

disinterest in a dispute

maintain disinterest

question somebody's disinterest

用法筆記

Common in legal, political, and academic discussion. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about freedom from personal advantage, not a bored or detached attitude.

常見錯誤

❌The judge's disinterest made her ignore both lawyers.
✅The judge's disinterest helped her hear both lawyers fairly.
💡Here disinterest means impartiality, not failure to pay attention.

disinterest — verb