Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Lacking interest, concern, or sympathy: Showing no care, enthusiasm, or preference.
   • Neither good nor bad; mediocre: Of only average or moderate quality; not very good.
   • Unimportant; not mattering: Having no significance or consequence.
   • Neutral; unbiased: Characterized by a lack of partiality or preference.
   • Having a limited chemical reactivity: Chemically inactive or neutral.

Examples of Usage

• Lacking interest/concern:
  • She was indifferent to their criticism.
  • He remained indifferent to the political debate.
• Mediocre quality:
  • The restaurant received indifferent reviews.
  • He gave an indifferent performance in the play.
• Unimportant:
  • The exact time is indifferent to me; I can meet you anytime.
• Neutral/unbiased:
  • A judge must remain indifferent to the personal backgrounds of those in the courtroom.
• Chemically inactive:
  • Nitrogen is relatively indifferent under standard conditions.

Advanced Usage

• "Indifferent to": This is the most common prepositional phrase, used to show a lack of interest, concern, or effect.
  • He seemed utterly indifferent to the outcome.
  • The material is indifferent to most acids.
• "A matter of indifference": A thing that is unimportant or of no concern.
  • Which route we take is a matter of indifference; they both take the same time.

Variants and Related Words

• Indifferently (adverb): In an indifferent manner.
  • He shrugged indifferently.
• Indifference (noun): Lack of interest, concern, or importance.
  • Her indifference to the proposal was obvious.

Synonyms

• Apathetic: Showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
• Unconcerned: Not worried or anxious.
• Mediocre: Of only moderate quality; not very good.
• Neutral: Not supporting or helping either side in a conflict or disagreement.
• Impartial: Treating all rivals or disputants equally.

Antonyms

• Concerned: Worried, troubled, or interested.
• Enthusiastic: Having or showing intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval.
• Excellent: Extremely good; outstanding.
• Biased: Unfairly prejudiced for or against someone or something.
• Crucial: Of great importance.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• To be indifferent to: The standard construction for expressing a lack of care or effect.
  • She was completely indifferent to his flattery.
• It is a matter of indifference: Used to state that something is unimportant.
  • It's a matter of indifference to me whether we go today or tomorrow.

Adjective

1. neither too great nor too little
   • a couple of indifferent hills to climb
2. being neither good nor bad
   • an indifferent performance
   • a gifted painter but an indifferent actor
   • her work at the office is passable
   • a so-so golfer
   • feeling only so-so
   • prepared a tolerable dinner
   • a tolerable working knowledge of French
3. characterized by a lack of partiality
   • a properly indifferent jury
   • an unbiasgoted account of her family problems
4. marked by no especial liking or dislike or preference for one thing over another
   • indifferent about which book you would give them
   • was indifferent to their acceptance or rejection of her invitation
5. having only a limited ability to react chemically; chemically inactive
   • inert matter
   • an indifferent chemical in a reaction
6. fairly poor to not very good
   • has an indifferent singing voice
   • has indifferent qualifications for the job
7. (often followed by `to') lacking importance; not mattering one way or the other
   • whether you choose to do it or not is a matter that is quite immaterial (or indifferent)
   • what others think is altogether indifferent to him
8. (usually followed by `to') unwilling or refusing to pay heed
   • deaf to her warnings
9. showing no care or concern in attitude or action
   • indifferent to the sufferings of others
   • indifferent to her plea
10. marked by a lack of interest; it is simply indifferent"
    • an apathetic audience
    • the universe is neither hostile nor friendly