disinterestedness

noun

dis·​in·​ter·​est·​ed·​ness (ˌ)dis-ˈin-trə-stəd-nəs How to pronounce disinterestedness (audio)
-ˈin-tə-ˌre-,
-tə-rə-,
-tər-;
-ˈin-ˌtre-
: the quality or state of being objective or impartial

Examples of disinterestedness in a Sentence

the disinterestedness with which the newspaper reports stories earns it the respect and trust of the community a fair measure of the level of disinterestedness in the proceedings was the near-constant yawning by both participants and observers
Recent Examples on the Web The first had to do with the principle of disinterestedness, which called for partisan politics to be kept out of scholarship and the classroom. Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2021 You can’t be disinterested, because everyone knows that disinterestedness is a façade. Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2023 The news anchors maintained a posture of disinterestedness. Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2023 These functions are all masked by the academic ideology of disinterestedness. Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2021 Both knew the artistic value of reserve, of disinterestedness. Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2019 But Robert Brookings’s early model of political disinterestedness and scientific objectivity began to erode soon afterward. John B. Judis, New Republic, 15 Sep. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'disinterestedness.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1682, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of disinterestedness was circa 1682

Dictionary Entries Near disinterestedness

Cite this Entry

“Disinterestedness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disinterestedness. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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