detached

[ dih-tacht ]

adjective

1. not attached; separated:

   a detached ticket stub.

   Antonyms: attached

2. having no wall in common with another building ( attached ):

   a detached house.

   Antonyms: attached

3. impartial or objective; disinterested; unbiased:

   a detached judgment.

   Synonyms: uninvolved, unprejudiced, dispassionate, evenhanded, neutral

4. not involved or concerned; aloof.

detached

/ dɪˈtætʃt /

adjective

1. disconnected or standing apart; not attached

   a detached house

2. having or showing no bias or emotional involvement; disinterested
3. social welfare working at the clients' normal location rather than from an office; not dependent on premises for providing a service Compare outreach

   a detached youth worker

4. ophthalmol (of the retina) separated from the choroid layer of the eyeball to which it is normally attached, resulting in loss of vision in the affected part

Other Words From

• de·tached·ly [dih-, tach, -id-lee, -, tacht, -lee], adverb
• de·tached·ness noun
• unde·tached adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of detached¹

First recorded in 1700–10; detach + -ed ²

Example Sentences

After Anolik’s 2014 Vanity Fair profile of Babitz, the writer enjoyed a revival, and her books came back in print, showcasing an original voice that consciously or not, is the antithesis of Didion’s coolly detached reportage.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Duffy lives in a traditional stone-walled detached house in Sheffield.

From BBC

Perseverance during the past three years paid off, however, and the couple’s 1930’s detached house now has improved insulation, a heat pump, and an electric car charging point.

From BBC

Kwan, a wealthy doctor who lived in a large detached home in Ingleby Barwick with his wife and young son, was motivated purely by greed, Mr Makepeace said.

From BBC

While that logic is largely agreed upon by economists, some progressives have stressed that the plan will only be effective if a Harris administration invests primarily in low-cost housing built for low-income renters and detached from the speculative market.

From Salon

Related Words

• abstract
• casual
• dispassionate
• distant
• impartial
• impersonal
• indifferent
• laid-back
• remote
• removed
• unbiased