impertinent
Americanadjective
-
intrusive or presumptuous, as persons or their actions; insolently rude; uncivil.
a brash, impertinent youth.
- Antonyms:
- polite
-
not pertinent or relevant; irrelevant.
an impertinent detail.
-
Archaic. inappropriate, incongruous, or absurd.
-
Obsolete. (of persons) trivial, silly, or absurd.
adjective
-
rude; insolent; impudent
-
irrelevant or inappropriate
Synonym Usage
Impertinent, impudent, insolent refer to bold, rude, and arrogant behavior. Impertinent, from its primary meaning of not pertinent and hence inappropriate or out of place, has come to imply often an unseemly intrusion into what does not concern one, or a presumptuous rudeness toward one entitled to deference or respect: an impertinent interruption, question, manner toward a teacher. Impudent suggests a bold and shameless impertinence: an impudent speech, young rascal. Insolent suggests insulting or arrogantly contemptuous behavior: unbearably insolent toward those in authority.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of impertinent
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English from Late Latin impertinent- (stem of impertinēns ) “not belonging.” See im- 2, pertinent
Explanation
If someone's rude without being openly nasty, like a kid in the back row of class quietly heckling his teacher, you can call him impertinent. Impertinent originally meant just what it sounds like, "not pertinent, irrelevant," but it also came to mean "inappropriate, out of place" and therefore "intrusive, presumptuous; behaving without proper respect; insolent." It still carries a condescending air, so it's best used of or to a child being snippy to a grownup: "Don't be impertinent!" The stress is on the second syllable: im-PERT-inent.
Vocabulary lists containing impertinent
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Advanced English Words
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 8
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Eleanor can be so impertinent, yet the audience still has to like her.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 15, 2025
Mr. Hillyard has irritated Mr. Trump before with questions that the former president deemed impertinent.
From New York Times • Jan. 21, 2024
In the past, words or phrases deemed to have stepped over the line include "impertinent dog", "cad", "blethering", "guttersnipe" and "git".
From BBC • Dec. 29, 2023
I will not appear to condone the diminishment of any group at the expense of impertinent gestures toward another group for any reason, even when the law of the land appears to require it.’”
From Washington Times • Mar. 24, 2023
“If it isn’t impertinent to ask, when is your baby due?”
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
