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

I was taking a detached view of the data and trends and how Trumpism is a symptom of many deep problems in American society and not the cause.

From Salon

In a detached office, Ian had stored photos of the damage to his old house that burned in the 1990 Santa Barbara wildfire.

From Los Angeles Times

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

A life-sized Taylor Swift cake has had to be withdrawn from a major cake show after its hands detached in transit - somewhat apt for the singer of Shake it Off.

From BBC

Maybe the detached skulls and bloody hands on our lawns are part of an endeavor to harness or reclaim our fears.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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