disinterestedness

noun

dis·​in·​ter·​est·​ed·​ness (ˌ)dis-ˈin-trə-stəd-nəs How to pronounce disinterestedness (audio)
-ˈin-tə-ˌre-,
-tə-rə-,
-tər-;
-ˈin-ˌtre-
: the quality or state of being objective or impartial

Examples of disinterestedness in a Sentence

the disinterestedness with which the newspaper reports stories earns it the respect and trust of the community a fair measure of the level of disinterestedness in the proceedings was the near-constant yawning by both participants and observers
Recent Examples on the Web
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The news anchors maintained a posture of disinterestedness. Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2023 Both knew the artistic value of reserve, of disinterestedness. Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2019 But Robert Brookings’s early model of political disinterestedness and scientific objectivity began to erode soon afterward. John B. Judis, New Republic, 15 Sep. 2017 The Chilean Minister of Foreign Affairs then assumed the initiative by denying Peru's disinterestedness, charging Peru with seeking to injure Chilean interests by her nitrate measures, and with keeping secret the treaty of alliance between Peru and Bolivia. Edwin M. Borchard, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2011

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1682, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of disinterestedness was circa 1682

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Cite this Entry

“Disinterestedness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disinterestedness. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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