What does aloofness mean?
Word: Aloofness
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Aloofness means the quality of being cool and distant, and not friendly or involved with others.
Synonyms: coldness, distance, reserve, detachment
Antonyms: friendliness, warmth, sociability
Word origin: From aloof, formed from a- and the old word loof 'windward', probably from Dutch loef.
How do you spell aloofness?
Syllables: a - loof - ness
Tricky part: Aloof has a double o, said like the oo in roof. Alofness is the usual slip.
Watch out for: alofness, alufness
Memory tip: Aloof rhymes with roof and spells its middle the same way, with oo.
Aloofness in a sentence
Example 1: His aloofness at the party puzzled the other guests, who had expected him to make a speech.
Example 2: The cat's aloofness ended the moment the fish curry came out.
Example 3: The new captain's aloofness worried the rest of the team.
Fun Fact
Aloof began as a sailing order meaning steer into the wind, which kept a ship clear of the shore. Only later did it come to describe people who keep their distance.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Tally
How many words are misspelt in the given sentence?
The new neighbour's aloofnes puzzled us at first, but she later explained that she was simply nervous about speaking Marathi.
a) 0
b) 3
c) 2
d) 1
Show answer
d) 1. Only aloofnes is wrong: the ending ness always has a double s.
Word Champ
Choose the correct word for the blank:
The new boy's ___ at lunch, sitting apart and answering only in single words, made others think he was proud.
a) aloofness
b) rashness
c) frankness
d) eagerness
Show answer
a) aloofness. Sitting apart and saying little shows a distant manner; eagerness, rashness or frankness would have him talking or acting fast.
Spell Spies
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) alooffness
b) deafness
c) gruffness
d) stiffness
Show answer
a) alooffness. Gruff and stiff end in ff, but aloof ends in a single f, and ness does not change it.
Spell Probe
One word in the sentence is misspelt. Choose the meaning of that word:
The new pupil's aloofness on the first day was soon forgotten, because by the end of the week she was leading the debait team.
a) a period of seven days
b) the quality of being cool and distant
c) a person who is learning at a school
d) a formal discussion in which people argue for and against an idea
Show answer
d) a formal discussion in which people argue for and against an idea. Debait should be debate, ending in ate; aloofness is spelt correctly.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which behaviour shows aloofness?
a) keeping to yourself and not joining in
b) helping everyone set out the chairs
c) asking lots of friendly questions
d) laughing loudly at every joke
Show answer
a) keeping to yourself and not joining in
2. Rahul's aloofness at the wedding was not rudeness; he simply ___.
a) had lost his ticket
b) was learning to dance
c) felt shy among strangers
d) wanted more sweets
Show answer
c) felt shy among strangers
