aloofness

noun

aloof·​ness ə-ˈlüf-nəs 

: the quality or state of being aloof or emotionally distant

Her aloofness … did not endear her to the rest of the company …

—Marybeth Kerrigan

… there was an aloofness in him which the boys and I could never quite bridge.

—Mildred D. Taylor

His aloofness was … born more of insecurity than of arrogance …

—David Cannadine

… was respected for his military tenacity and his surprising aloofness from party favoritism.

—Simon Schama

Examples of aloofness in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

What the rise of 'chalance' says about dating People have equated aloofness with coolness since long before the internet came around. — Charles Trepany, USA Today, 29 June 2026

My fear manifested as aloofness. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 June 2026

With New Detroit, Lelo aimed to elevate the lyrical subject matter of his scene, injecting an emotional nakedness to balance the aloofness and watch-gleaming. — Anthony Seaman, Pitchfork, 3 June 2026

John saw Mattie and Prince as obstacles to his musical career, which led to his aloofness, anger, bullying, and hostility toward the family. — Literary Hub, 17 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

aloof entry 1 + -ness

First Known Use

1639, in the meaning defined above