flippant

[flip-uhnt]

See more synonyms for flippant on Thesaurus.com

adjective

frivolously disrespectful, shallow, or lacking in seriousness; characterized by levity: The audience was shocked by his flippant remarks about patriotism.
Chiefly Dialect. nimble, limber, or pliant.
Archaic. glib; voluble.

Origin of flippant

1595–1605; apparently flip¹ + -ant

Related formsflip·pan·cy, flip·pant·ness, nounflip·pant·ly, adverbun·flip·pant, adjectiveun·flip·pant·ly, adverb

Synonyms

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

1. saucy, impertinent, impudent.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for flippant

Contemporary Examples

When the editor of Outside magazine, Alex Heard, tweeted that I had made an ass of myself, my response was arrogant and flippant.
I Was Deluded to Believe Lance Armstrong When He Denied Doping
Buzz Bissinger
January 14, 2013
Ali Gharib said after the fact that he realized the comments were flippant and irresponsible.
Intramural War of Words Raises Question of Who Loves Israel More
Linda Killian
January 6, 2012
He seems implacably bespectacled—admonitory even in his flippant asides.
Blame the Messenger
Lee Siegel
August 17, 2009

Historical Examples

She turned away instantly, with a flippant lift and drop of both hands.
Alice Adams
Booth Tarkington
It was a flippant, vulgar book, the outcome of a flippant, vulgar mind.
Changing Winds
St. John G. Ervine
The captain was, in his opinion, altogether too flippant and jolly.
Cap'n Warren's Wards
Joseph C. Lincoln
"Then leave it to Him," was the flippant answer; and Joseph drained his glass.
The Tavern Knight
Rafael Sabatini
Every one laughed at his jokes, but to me they seemed superficial and flippant.
Melomaniacs
James Huneker

British Dictionary definitions for flippant

flippant

adjective

marked by inappropriate levity; frivolous or offhand
impertinent; saucy
obsolete talkative or nimble

Derived Formsflippancy, nounflippantly, adverb

Word Origin

C17: perhaps from flip

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for flippant

adj.

c.1600, "talkative;" 1670s, "displaying unbecoming levity," apparently an extended form of flip (v.). Shortened form flip is attested from 1847. Related: Flippantly.

flippant

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}flippant

Synonyms

Related Words

Examples from the Web for flippant

Contemporary Examples

When the editor of Outside magazine, Alex Heard, tweeted that I had made an ass of myself, my response was arrogant and flippant.

Ali Gharib said after the fact that he realized the comments were flippant and irresponsible.

He seems implacably bespectacled—admonitory even in his flippant asides.

Historical Examples

She turned away instantly, with a flippant lift and drop of both hands.

It was a flippant, vulgar book, the outcome of a flippant, vulgar mind.

The captain was, in his opinion, altogether too flippant and jolly.

"Then leave it to Him," was the flippant answer; and Joseph drained his glass.

Every one laughed at his jokes, but to me they seemed superficial and flippant.

flippant

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for flippant

adj.

Origin of flippant