uninterested

adjective

un·​in·​ter·​est·​ed

ˌən-ˈin-t(ə-)rə-stəd;

-ˈin-tə-ˌre- 

-ˈin-ˌtre-;

-ˈin-tər-

: not interested : not having the mind or feelings engaged

Disinterested vs. Uninterested: Usage Guide

Confusion about the meanings of disinterested and uninterested is longstanding and may be due to their tangled histories. When disinterested and uninterested entered the language in the 17th century, disinterested meant "not interested" and uninterested meant "not biased." Since then, the situation has all but reversed itself. Uninterested now means only "not interested."

uninterested in attending

Disinterested can mean either "not biased" or "not interested," but is most commonly used to mean "not biased."

the need for a disinterested referee

However, disinterested is more common than uninterested in contexts that suggest a loss of interest.

when I grow tired or disinterested in anything, I experience a disgust

—Jack London, letter, 1914

Still, use of the "not interested" sense of disinterested will incur the disapproval of some who may not fully appreciate the history of this word or the subtleties of its present use.

Synonyms of uninterested

• nonchalant
• casual
• disinterested

Examples of uninterested in a Sentence

the teacher decided to make a career change after having to teach yet another class of uninterested teens

Recent Examples on the Web

Why are people who live in white-majority countries so uninterested in the real story, even unwilling to believe it? —Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026

Students are portrayed as disengaged, fragile, glued to screens and uninterested in real work or real relationships. —Ryan Gable, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026

This is Louisville cooking at its most self-assured—global in influence, local in execution, and uninterested in chasing trends for the sake of it. —Hannah Howard, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 2026

Even the most uninterested in football know of the spoken signal required for the quarterback to ask for the ball. —Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1661, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for uninterested

• disinterested
• interested

Kids Definition

uninterested

adjective

un·​in·​ter·​est·​ed

ˌən-ˈint-ə-ˌres-təd, 

ˈən-;

-ˈin-trəs-, 

-ˌtres-;

-ˈint-ərs-, 

-ˈint-ə-rəs-

: not interested : not paying attention