disinterested

/dis'intristid/

Thân thiện

The judge remained disinterested throughout the trial.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Unbiased, impartial: Not influenced by personal advantage or self-interest; free from selfish motives.
   • (Archaic or disputed usage) Uninterested, indifferent: Lacking interest or concern. (Note: This usage is often considered incorrect in modern formal contexts, where "uninterested" is preferred.)

Usage

• The primary and correct modern meaning of "disinterested" is impartial or unbiased. It describes a person or judgment that is fair because it is not influenced by the possibility of personal gain.
• The secondary meaning, "lacking interest," is widely criticized as an error by language authorities, though it is common in informal use. For clarity, use "uninterested" to mean "not interested."

Examples

• As 'impartial':

  • We need a disinterested third party to mediate the dispute.
  • The judge provided a disinterested analysis of the evidence.
  • Her advice was completely disinterested; she had nothing to gain from the outcome.

• As 'uninterested' (often considered incorrect):

  • ❌ He seemed disinterested in the lecture. (Better: He seemed uninterested in the lecture.)

Advanced Usage

• "Disinterestedness" (noun): The quality of being disinterested or impartial.
  • The committee's disinterestedness was crucial for maintaining public trust.

Variants and Related Words

• Uninterested (adj): Not interested in or concerned about something.
  • He was uninterested in sports.
• Impartial (adj): Treating all rivals or disputants equally; fair and just. (A close synonym for the primary meaning of "disinterested.")
• Objective (adj): Not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering facts; unbiased.

Synonyms

• Impartial
• Unbiased
• Neutral
• Fair
• Even-handed

Antonyms

• Biased
• Partial
• Prejudiced
• Interested (in the sense of having a personal stake)

Common Errors and Clarifications

• Disinterested vs. Uninterested: This is a key distinction.
  • Disinterested means impartial.
  • Uninterested means not interested.
  • Incorrect: A disinterested spectator yawned. (If the spectator was bored, use "uninterested.")
  • Correct: A disinterested judge oversaw the competition. (The judge was fair and had no personal stake.)

Học thuật

Adjective

1. unaffected by self-interest