effrontery

[ ih-fruhn-tuh-ree ]

noun

, plural ef·fron·ter·ies.

1. shameless or impudent boldness; barefaced audacity:

   She had the effrontery to ask for two free samples.

   Synonyms: cheek, impudence, impertinence

2. an act or instance of this.

effrontery

/ ɪˈfrʌntərɪ /

noun

1. shameless or insolent boldness; impudent presumption; audacity; temerity

Word History and Origins

Origin of effrontery¹

1705–15; < French effronterie, equivalent to Old French esfront shameless ( es- ex- ¹ + front brow; front ) + -erie -ery

Word History and Origins

Origin of effrontery¹

C18: from French effronterie, from Old French esfront barefaced, shameless, from Late Latin effrons, literally: putting forth one's forehead; see front

Example Sentences

Last July in Moscow, Magnitsky was given a posthumous punishment for his effrontery by being put on trial for tax evasion.

From The Daily Beast

Without real and ingenious effrontery there is not doing anything at court.

From Project Gutenberg

She had the effrontery to hold the baby up, with his little naked legs kicking in Tanqueray's face.

From Project Gutenberg

How dared he have the effrontery to intrude his unclean carcass betwixt the wind and our nobility?

From Project Gutenberg

The old Bohemian was there, in a humble attitude, little conformable with the effrontery natural to his race.

From Project Gutenberg

Some of the senators doubted that the President had such "daring effrontery" as to ask for such power.

From Project Gutenberg