Which Word?: Disinterested vs. Uninterested

Hello all!

I’m back with another tricky word pair. Today’s culprits are disinterested and uninterested. These words can get confusing not because they look or sound the same but because they appear to mean the same thing. We’re used to interpreting the prefixes dis- and un- to both indicate the opposite of the word to which they’re attached. For example, the dis- in disappear causes that word to mean the opposite of appear, and the un- in undo causes that word to mean the opposite of do. So, we would tend to think that both disinterested and uninterested mean “not interested.”

In this case, however, only the un- functions in its usual capacity. Uninterested is the word that actually means “not interested”; disinterested, by contrast, means “impartial” or “objective.” Rather than a complete removal of interest, the dis- in this case indicates simply a removal of preference. Someone can be interested in a sporting event while still being disinterested in its outcome, but that person cannot be both interested and uninterested in that event.

It’s a subtle distinction, but an important one for your writing. You can entirely change the meaning of a sentence by using one word instead of the other. I hope this explanation has helped clarify this word pair for you!

Until next time!

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About Sarah Dawson

For nearly a decade, I have worked with both corporate and independent authors to perfect their writing prior to its publication. As a freelancer, the services I offer include proofreading, copyediting (light, medium, and heavy), substantive editing, rewriting, and writing. Whatever the type of service I provide, I consider myself a liaison between author and reader; my job is to convey the author’s message to the reader in the clearest, most pleasing way possible. Among my particular areas of expertise are educational materials and child and young adult literature. My background as an educator and a school librarian gives me unique insight into how to make such writing exceptional. I have also worked extensively with corporate writers, working on text for use in marketing, employee education, and websites. I welcome all inquiries. Let me know how I can help perfect your writing!