Disinterested vs Uninterested
Published January 19, 2023. Updated January 19, 2023.
Disinterested and uninterested are two commonly confused words that people use interchangeably. However, they are quite different in meaning despite the fact that they are both adjectives. Someone who is disinterested in something is “without any vested interest or stake in something.” Contrastively, someone who is uninterested is “not interested in something.”
Here are some example sentences to help you better understand the differences between each word.
Disinterested (adjective)
Without any vested interest or stake in something.
Examples:
After their ideal candidate lost the election, the megacorporation became disinterested in funding any further political ventures.
Even though I know this is a core class, I am simply disinterested in the topics because I don’t feel like they will ever be relevant in my career.
When you are describing someone who is disinterested, you are essentially describing someone who does not find value in investing in something. Think of an investor who is disinterested in funding a company because it is no longer profitable.
Uninterested (adjective)
Not interested in something.
Examples:
The dog seemed uninterested in playing with the ball, as he clearly only had food on his mind.
I am uninterested in dating right now, as I would rather focus on myself.
Someone who is uninterested is someone who is simply not interested in something or someone. It is a much less specific adjective than disinterested.
Main Points
- Disinterested is an adjective that describes someone who does not have an invested interest in something.
- Uninterested is an adjective that describes someone who is not interested in something.
- When deciding which adjective to use, think of disinterested as a word that describes someone who no longer has a stake in something or someone else.