disinterested vs uninterested
Disinterested means impartial — having no stake in the outcome. Uninterested means simply not interested. A good referee is disinterested, not uninterested: fair, but far from bored.
The difference
- disinterested (adjective) — impartial; free of bias or self-interest
- uninterested (adjective) — not interested; indifferent, bored
Examples
- We need a disinterested judge for the dispute.
- He seemed uninterested in the details.
How to remember
A disinterested party has no interest at stake; an uninterested one has no interest at all.
The common trap
Using 'disinterested' to mean bored — that sense is uninterested.
These distinctions are exactly what Word Meaning and Contextual Word Choice questions test. Read the Word Meaning guide or Contextual Word Choice guide, then practise the drill.