Words / C1

in-DIFR-uh-ns/ɪnˈdɪfrəns/

Indifference is not caring: indifference to suffering, met with indifference. Indifferent is the adjective; it can also mean mediocre (an indifferent meal). Apathy (already in the dictionary) is a close cousin. Difference is the lookalike. Do not praise “professional indifference” if you mean impartial (already in the dictionary).

Meaning

Lack of interest or care; also, of quality, neither good nor bad.

Examples

• “Indifference to the leak was worse than the leak.”
• “Indifference to the leak — no log, no call — was worse than the leak.”
• “An indifferent paper is mediocre; indifference to a safety brief is not caring. Impartial is fair, not uncaring.”

Good to know

Not caring; also “mediocre” (an indifferent meal). Close: apathy. Mix-up: impartial (fair). Lookalike: difference.

Near in meaning

apathy

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