aloofness

noun

aloof·​ness ə-ˈlüf-nəs How to pronounce aloofness (audio)
: the quality or state of being aloof or emotionally distant
Her aloofness … did not endear her to the rest of the company …Marybeth Kerrigan
… there was an aloofness in him which the boys and I could never quite bridge.Mildred D. Taylor
His aloofness was … born more of insecurity than of arrogance …David Cannadine
… was respected for his military tenacity and his surprising aloofness from party favoritism.Simon Schama

Examples of aloofness in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In its breadth and aloofness, Death to Order feels like a distant cousin of Dial H-I-S-T-O-R-Y, Johan Grimonprez’s cavorting 1997 documentary about airliner hijackings. Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025 In short, any time the Obama administration has seemed to embrace a policy of regime change as heartily as the first-term Bush administration did, China has stopped supporting multilateral responses to regional and civil conflicts and pulled back to its earlier aloofness. Thomas J. Christensen, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2015 As to these particular colleagues, Miss Manners would have no trouble treating them with a professional aloofness. Judith Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 June 2025 Hogan was known for his intense focus, privacy, and aloofness. Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for aloofness

Word History

Etymology

aloof entry 1 + -ness

First Known Use

1639, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of aloofness was in 1639

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Cite this Entry

“Aloofness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aloofness. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.

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