WRITING LESSON: DISINTERESTED VS. UNINTERESTED

The words are often used interchangeably, but traditionalists prefer to keep them separate. Both mean "without interest," but "interest" has several meanings.

Disinterested means "without a stake in" — without a bias, impartial. Uninterested means "indifferent" or "without a care about" — you just don't give a damn.

You can be disinterested in something but not uninterested, and vice versa. For instance, because I'm not a betting man, I don't stand to gain or lose anything in the outcome of most sporting events; I might still enjoy watching a game: I'm disinterested but not uninterested. Conversely, I might not care about the intricacies of tax policies, but I certainly have a stake in the outcome: I'm uninterested but not disinterested.