Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

indifferent

/ɪnˈdɪf.ɹənt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.44 in modern English

Syllables: in-dif-fer-ent
IPA: /ɪnˈdɪf.ɹənt/

18

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

4

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Ambivalent; unconcerned; uninterested, apathetic.

adj

Indicating or reflecting a lack of concern or care.

adj

Mediocre (usually used negatively in modern usage).

adj

Having no preference.

adj

Unbiased, impartial, judging fairly.

Dated

adj

Not making a difference; without significance or importance.

adj

Being in the state of neutral equilibrium.

adj

Not different; matching.

Obsolete

Example Sentences

"He was indifferent to the proposal, since it didn’t affect him, either way."
"“I must not hope to be ever situated as you are, in the midst of every dearest connexion, and therefore I cannot expect that simply growing older should make me indifferent about letters.” / “Indifferent! Oh! no—I never conceived you could become indifferent. Letters are no matter of indifference; they are generally a very positive curse.”"
"When you have a hundred francs in the world you are liable to the most craven panics. When you have only three francs you are quite indifferent; for three francs will feed you till tomorrow, and you cannot think further than that. You are bored, but you are not afraid."
"She responded with an indifferent shrug."
"Donald appeared not to see her at all, and answered her wise little remarks with curtly indifferent monosyllables […]"
"Then she shrugged, the mildest, most indifferent gesture he had ever seen, and smiled."

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Italic *n̥- Latin in- Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ ▲ Proto-Indo-European *trísinflu. Proto-Indo-European *d(w)is- Proto-Italic *dis- Latin dis- Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *bʰéreti Proto-Italic *ferō Latin ferō Latin differō Latin differēns Latin indifferēns Old French indifferent English indifferent From Old French indifferent, from Latin indifferens. By surface analysis, in- + different.

Usage

Inflected Forms

more indifferent (comparative) most indifferent (superlative) indifferents (plural)

Derived Forms

indifferentist indifferentness unindifferent

Frequently Paired Words

indifference indifferency indifferentism indifferently

Synonyms

insouciant nonchalant adiaphroistic apathetic apathistical blasé blithe deaf cool shiftless dispassionate dull

Questions

How do you pronounce indifferent?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɪnˈdɪf.ɹənt/.
What does indifferent mean?: Ambivalent; unconcerned; uninterested, apathetic.
Where does indifferent come from?: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Italic *n̥- Latin in- Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ ▲ Proto-Indo-European *trísinflu. Proto-Indo-European *d(w)is- Proto-Italic *dis- Latin dis- Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *bʰéreti Proto-Italic *ferō Latin ferō Latin differō Latin differēns Latin indifferēns Old French indifferent English indifferent From Old French indifferent, from Latin indifferens. By surface analysis, in- + different.

How to pronounce indifferent

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