Look at the words ‘disinterested’ and ‘uninterested’. Pretty alike, yes? So they must mean the same, or at least something similar?
Unfortunately, things are rarely so simple with the English language. Although ‘disinterested’ and ‘uninterested’ are both antonyms for ‘interested’, they have importantly distinct meanings.
The term ‘disinterested’ means ‘not influenced by personal advantage’ and reflects the idea of being objective or unbiased about something:
The dispute ended only after we intervened as a disinterested party.
Here, ‘disinterested’ is opposed to ‘interested’ understood as ‘being involved in’ or ‘standing to benefit from’ something.
For instance, politicians are supposed to declare their ‘interests’ to avoid the possibility of corruption. Likewise, in any realm where objectivity is important, such as science or law, being ‘disinterested’ is desirable.
Being ‘uninterested’, on the other hand, simply describes being bored by or indifferent towards something:
Despite the teacher’s efforts, the students remained uninterested.
Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.
The sense of ‘interest’ drawn upon here is that of being curious about or engaged by something, so ‘uninterested’ is the opposite of this.
One good way to remember the difference between these terms is to imagine a laboratory with two scientists: Scientist A and Scientist B.
Scientist A is good at her job because she is disinterested and always strives to maintain objectivity, putting aside her personal interests for the good of her research.
Scientist B is bad at his job because he is uninterested. Instead of doing any work, he spends his days playing with Bunsen burners and checking Facebook.
One of these scientists will not be getting his research grant renewed, but at least this illustrates why you don’t want to mix up ‘disinterested’ and ‘uninterested’ in your work! Remember:
Disinterested = Objective
Uninterested = Bored
Δ
3-minute read
Google Docs is a powerful collaborative tool, and mastering its features can significantly enhance your...
2-minute read
If you’re writing about health issues, you might need to reference the Centers for Disease...
5-minute read
Introduction If you’re involved with ecommerce, you’re likely familiar with the often painstaking process of...
Are you interested in learning more about the role of a content editor and the...
4-minute read
Proofreading is important to ensure your writing is clear and concise for your readers. Whether...
Creating presentations can be time-consuming and frustrating. Trying to construct a visually appealing and informative...