aloofness

noun

aloof·​ness ə-ˈlüf-nəs 

: 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

Who better than Alain Delon — dashing and with a hint of growing aloofness — to represent a man of such multitudes? —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2024

Taking the reins from Glenn Close, who originated the role on Broadway, Scherzinger brings an almost alien quality to Norma, whose strange poise and aloofness masks much deeper, repressed trauma. —Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 21 Oct. 2024

His international friendships were full of comings and goings—a strange combination of aloofness and yearning. —Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2024

Sante, even freed up now to be a chattier and more easygoing version of herself, retains a bit of her aloofness. —Carl Swanson, Vulture, 9 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

aloof entry 1 + -ness

First Known Use

1639, in the meaning defined above