disinterested, uninterested. 'Gerulaitis, after appearing almost disinterested in the first set, took a 5–1 lead in the second' {The New York Times}. A participant in a tennis match might appear uninterested, but he would be unlikely to be disinterested, which means neutral and impartial. A disinterested person is one who has no stake in the outcome of an event; an uninterested person is one who doesn't care. As with DISCOMFIT and DISCOMFORT {see above}, the distinction is a useful one and well worth fighting for."
( Bill Bryson )
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