Disinterested/Uninterested


Disinterested/Uninterested -- The prefixes dis- and un- both negate the word they follow, but when they are followed by the word “interested” the resulting words are very different. The word “disinterested” used in the legal sense means someone who is unbiased or does not have a pecuniary or other interest in a matter. Examples of this include: disinterested juror and disinterested witness. Uninterested, on the other hand, means not caring to know about something.

Incorrect: When mediating a matter it is important to be an uninterested party.

Explanation: It may seem as if the matter you are mediating is boring and inconsequential, but no matter how trivial the issue may be it is important to treat it in an unbiased manner -- therefore the correct word here is disinterested.