Unconcern means a lack of worry or anxiety about something. When you show unconcern, you remain calm and untroubled even when others might be anxious or upset.

Picture a student who faces an upcoming spelling bee with complete unconcern. While classmates nervously review their word lists, she sits reading a novel, genuinely unbothered. Her unconcern might come from confidence in her preparation, or simply from not caring much about the outcome.

Unconcern differs from not knowing about a problem. It means you're aware of a situation but choose not to worry about it. A cat sleeping peacefully while a thunderstorm rages outside shows perfect unconcern.

Sometimes unconcern is admirable, like when a skilled pilot maintains calm unconcern during minor turbulence, reassuring nervous passengers. Other times it can be frustrating, like when someone shows unconcern about responsibilities they should take seriously. A student who treats an important assignment with unconcern might be headed for trouble.

The word suggests an attitude or state of mind rather than ignorance. You can't show unconcern about something you don't know exists. When you hear that someone viewed a crisis with unconcern, it means they knew about it but stayed remarkably unworried.