If you accuse someone of indifferenceto something, you mean that they have a complete lack of interest in it.
...his callous indifference to the plight of his son. [+ to]
...a look in his eyes of utter indifference.
Synonyms: disregard, apathy, lack of interest, negligence More Synonyms of indifference
More Synonyms of indifference
indifference in British English
(ɪnˈdɪfrəns, -fərəns)
noun
1.
the fact or state of being indifferent; lack of care or concern
2.
lack of quality; mediocrity
3.
lack of importance; insignificance
4. principle of indifference
indifference in American English
(ɪnˈdɪfərəns; ɪnˈdɪfrəns)
noun
the quality, state, or fact of being indifferent
; specif.,
a.
lack of concern, interest, or feeling; apathy
b.
lack of importance, meaning, or worth
Also ; Archaic inˈdifferency
Word origin
Fr < L indifferentia
Examples of 'indifference' in a sentence
indifference
This lack of indifference speaks volumes in itself.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The identity of their victims was of complete indifference.
The Sun (2008)
To confuse the endings is to show indifference to political history and not just language.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
What are the four properties of an indifference curve?
Miller, Roger LeRoy & Fishe, Raymond P. H. Microeconomics: Price Theory in Practice (1995)
Why do some public servants show such lazy and callous indifference to vulnerable citizens?
The Sun (2011)
The only heroes of our story went home to public indifference and official neglect.
Hugh Bicheno REBELS AND REDCOATS: The American Revolutionary War (2003)
It shows an indifference to both the past and the future.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We do not know where the new optimal bundle will be unless we draw additional indifference curves.
Miller, Roger LeRoy & Fishe, Raymond P. H. Microeconomics: Price Theory in Practice (1995)
The callous indifference to this small man and his missing bike is hugely affecting.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Public indifference is the accomplice of the corrupt.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
His rumpled clothes showed his indifference to convention.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Is it defined between two indifference curves or along one indifference curve?
Miller, Roger LeRoy & Fishe, Raymond P. H. Microeconomics: Price Theory in Practice (1995)
It was the kind of squabble guaranteed to inspire public indifference.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He personally rendered first aid to the wounded under heavy fire showing complete indifference to his own danger.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The book is at its weakest when seeking to explain the apparent indifference of this class to their fellow citizens.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Her apparent indifference to her disease was not only evident in the ten years before she had any recurrence of the trouble.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
This is not callous indifference, but common sense.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Draw a vegetarian's indifference curve for meat and potatoes.
Miller, Roger LeRoy & Fishe, Raymond P. H. Microeconomics: Price Theory in Practice (1995)
I think what got me most was their complete indifference.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The quibble is with their methods, and their apparent indifference to the sacrifices these methods required from others.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The insouciance, indifference and prejudice that the leader refers to is a compound subject governed by a sense of unity.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Without the help offered by passing merchant ships, the only signal it would be sending is one of callous indifference.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
One industry chief executive said: 'The complete indifference to the whole industry is baffling.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It is also obvious, though, that the things we have put forward to tackle it have met complete indifference.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Quotations
The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that's the essence of inhumanityGeorge Bernard ShawThe Devil's Disciple
I regard you with an indifference closely bordering on aversionRobert Louis StevensonThe New Arabian Nights
In other languages
indifference
British English: indifference NOUN
If you accuse someone of indifference to something, you mean that they have a complete lack of interest in it.
...his callous indifference to the plight of his son.
American English: indifference
Brazilian Portuguese: indiferença
Chinese: 漠不关心
European Spanish: indiferencia
French: indifférence
German: Gleichgültigkeit
Italian: indifferenza
Japanese: 無関心
Korean: 무관심
European Portuguese: indiferença
Latin American Spanish: indiferencia
Chinese translation of 'indifference'
indifference
(ɪnˈdɪfrəns)
n(u)
(= lack of interest) 冷淡 (lěngdàn)
1 (noun)
Definition
lack of concern or interest
his callous indifference to the plight of his son
Synonyms
disregard
a callous disregard for human life
apathy
the political apathy of many people these days
lack of interest
negligence
He was responsible for his patients' deaths through gross negligence.
detachment
her professional detachment
coolness
She seemed quite unaware of the sudden coolness of her friend's manner.
carelessness
coldness
nonchalance
He walked in with exaggerated nonchalance, his hands in his pockets.
callousness
I find your statement breathtaking in its callousness and cynicism.
aloofness
inattention
Evidence had been destroyed as a result of a moment's inattention.
unconcern
Her feelings had gone from blithe unconcern to anxiety.
absence of feeling
heedlessness
Opposites
interest
,
concern
,
care
,
attention
,
regard
,
commitment
,
enthusiasm
,
heed
2 (noun)
Definition
lack of importance
They regard dress as a matter of indifference.
Synonyms
irrelevance
insignificance
The event was regarded as of total insignificance.
triviality
news items of quite astonishing triviality
unimportance
3 (noun)
Synonyms
objectivity
The analyst must maintain an unusual degree of objectivity.
equity
a system based on social justice and equity
neutrality
He had a reputation for political neutrality and impartiality.
impartiality
a justice system lacking impartiality
disinterestedness
dispassion
Quotations
The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that's the essence of inhumanity [George Bernard Shaw – The Devil's Disciple]I regard you with an indifference closely bordering on aversion [Robert Louis Stevenson – The New Arabian Nights]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of apathy
Definition
lack of interest or enthusiasm
the political apathy of many people these days
Synonyms
lack of interest,
indifference,
inertia,
coolness,
passivity,
coldness,
stoicism,
nonchalance,
torpor,
phlegm,
sluggishness,
listlessness,
unconcern,
insensibility,
unresponsiveness,
impassivity,
passiveness,
impassibility,
unfeelingness,
emotionlessness,
uninterestedness
in the sense of callousness
I find your statement breathtaking in its callousness and cynicism.
Synonyms
heartlessness,
insensitivity,
hardness,
coldness,
harshness,
obduracy,
soullessness,
induration (rare),
hardheartedness,
unfeelingness,
obdurateness,
indifference
in the sense of coolness
She seemed quite unaware of the sudden coolness of her friend's manner.