impertinent

American  

[im-pur-tn-uhnt] / ɪmˈpɜr tn ənt /

adjective

1. intrusive or presumptuous, as persons or their actions; insolently rude; uncivil.

   a brash, impertinent youth.

   Synonyms:

   brazen, pert, saucy, officious, insulting, bold, fresh

   Antonyms:

   polite

2. not pertinent or relevant; irrelevant.

   an impertinent detail.

3. Archaic. inappropriate, incongruous, or absurd.

4. Obsolete. (of persons) trivial, silly, or absurd.

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impertinent British  

/ ɪmˈpɜːtɪnənt /

adjective

1. rude; insolent; impudent

2. irrelevant or inappropriate

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Related Words

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

• impertinently adverb
• impertinentness noun
• unimpertinent adjective
• unimpertinently adverb

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.

Example Sentences

"All these questions are very impertinent, I know, but if there is still a feeling in your heart for me… you must let me know!"

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2024

Mr. Hillyard has irritated Mr. Trump before with questions that the former president deemed impertinent.

From New York Times • Jan. 21, 2024

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

The younger characters are lively and appealing, not the least because they can be a little impertinent; as much as they might seem forged according to type, the actors make them into individuals.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 30, 2022

Otherwise, they go on and on, asking the most impertinent questions.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez