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Webster 1913 Edition

Indifferent

In-dif′fer-ent

,
Adj.
[F.
indifférent
, L.
indifferens
. See
In-
not, and
Different
.]
1.
Not making a difference; having no influence or preponderating weight; involving no preference, concern, or attention; of no account; without significance or importance.
Dangers are to me
indifferent
.
Shakespeare
Everything in the world is
indifferent
but sin.
Jer. Taylor.
His slightest and most
indifferent
acts . . . were odious in the clergyman’s sight.
Hawthorne.
2.
Neither particularly good, not very bad; of a middle state or quality; passable; mediocre.
The staterooms are in
indifferent
order.
Sir W. Scott.
3.
Not inclined to one side, party, or choice more than to another; neutral; impartial.
Indifferent
in his choice to sleep or die.
Addison.
4.
Feeling no interest, anxiety, or care, respecting anything; unconcerned; inattentive; apathetic; heedless;
as, to be
indifferent
to the welfare of one's family
.
It was a law of Solon, that any person who, in the civil commotions of the republic, remained neuter, or an
indifferent
spectator of the contending parties, should be condemned to perpetual banishment.
Addison.
5.
(Law)
Free from bias or prejudice; impartial; unbiased; disinterested.
In choice of committees for ripening business for the counsel, it is better to choose
indifferent
persons than to make an indifferency by putting in those that are strong on both sides.
Bacon.
Indifferent tissue
(Anat.)
,
the primitive, embryonic, undifferentiated tissue, before conversion into connective, muscular, nervous, or other definite tissue.

In-dif′fer-ent

,
adv.
To a moderate degree; passably; tolerably.
[Obs.]
“News indifferent good.”
Shak.

Webster 1828 Edition

Indifferent

INDIF'FERENT

,
Adj.
[L. indifferens.]
1.
Neutral; not inclined to one side, party or thing more than to another.
Cato knows neither of them,
Indifferent in his choice to sleep or die.
2.
Unconcerned; feeling no interest,anxiety or care respecting any thing. It seems to be impossible that a rational being should be indifferent to the means of obtaining endless happiness.
It was a remarkable law of Solon, that any person who, in the commotions of the republic, remained neuter, or an indifferent spectator of the contending parties, should be condemned to perpetual banishment.
3.
Having no influence or preponderating weight; having no difference that gives a preference. It is indifferent which road we take.
4.
Neutral, as to good or evil. Things in themselves indifferent, may be rendered evil by the prohibition of law.
5.
Impartial; disinterested; as an indifferent judge, juror or arbitrator.
6.
Passable; of a middling state or quality; neither good, nor the worst; as indifferent writing or paper.
Indifferent, used adverbially, as indifferent honest, is ungrammatical and vulgar.

Definition 2024

indifferent

indifferent

See also: indifférent and indiffèrent

English

Adjective

indifferent ‎(comparative more indifferent, superlative most indifferent)

  1. Not caring or concerned; uninterested, apathetic.
    He was indifferent to the proposal, since it didn't affect him, either way.
  2. Mediocre, usually used negatively in modern usage.
    The long distance and the indifferent roads made the journey impossible.
    The performance of Blue Jays has been indifferent this season.
    • Sir Walter Scott
      The staterooms are in indifferent order.
  3. Having no preference or bias, being impartial.
    I am indifferent between the two plans.
    • Addison
      indifferent in his choice to sleep or die
  4. Not making a difference; without significance or importance.
    Even if one appliance consumes an indifferent amount of energy when left on stand-by overnight, together they can represent 10% of the electricity demand of a household.
    • Shakespeare
      Dangers are to me indifferent.
    • Jeremy Taylor
      Everything in the world is indifferent but sin.
    • Nathaniel Hawthorne
      His slightest and most indifferent acts […] were odious in the clergyman's sight.
  5. (mechanics) Being in the state of neutral equilibrium.

Quotations

Translations

Adverb

indifferent

  1. (obsolete) To some extent, in some degree (intermediate between very and not at all); moderately, tolerably, fairly.
    The face of the Moon appearing to me to be full of indifferent high mountains...

Usage notes

  • Now obsolete, but very common c. 1600-1730.

References

Middle French

Adjective

indifferent m ‎(feminine singular indifferente, masculine plural indifferents, feminine plural indifferentes)

  1. indifferent; apathetic

Etymology

From Old French indifferent, from Latin indifferens

Pronunciation

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