impersonal
Americanadjective
-
not personal; without reference or connection to a particular person.
an impersonal remark.
-
having no personality; devoid of human character or traits.
an impersonal deity.
-
lacking human emotion or warmth.
an impersonal manner.
-
Grammar.
-
(of a verb) having only third person singular forms and rarely if ever accompanied by an expressed subject, as Latin pluit “it is raining,” or regularly accompanied by an empty subject word, as English to rain in It is raining.
-
(of a pronoun or pronominal reference) indefinite, as French on “one.”
-
noun
adjective
-
without reference to any individual person; objective
an impersonal assessment
-
devoid of human warmth or sympathy; cold
an impersonal manner
-
not having human characteristics
an impersonal God
-
grammar (of a verb) having no logical subject. Usually in English the pronoun it is used in such cases as a grammatical subject, as for example in It is raining
-
grammar (of a pronoun) not denoting a person
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of impersonal
From the Late Latin word impersōnālis, dating back to 1510–20. See im- 2, personal
Explanation
If you're impersonal, you're neutral — you're not showing your feelings or your preference. If you choose people to be on your team by closing your eyes and pointing, that's impersonal — you're not picking your friends or the best players. Impersonal can be good. An impersonal rejection is easier to take than one that specifies precisely why you, in particular, are a reject. But if your class is so impersonal, your teacher doesn't even know your name, that’s not good. A wedding that doesn't include details about the bride and groom would be impersonal and may be more like a business meeting than a celebration. Impersonal comes from the Latin roots in- or im-, "not," and personalis, "of a person."
Vocabulary lists containing impersonal
Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie
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!
Purple Hibiscus
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!
im-
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.
“While direct-to-consumer platforms have increased patient access to GLP-1 receptor agonists, these findings suggest that some do so through impersonal care that prioritizes quick prescriptions over comprehensive care,” the researchers wrote.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 7, 2026
Customer service felt a touch cold and impersonal — not entirely unexpected at a hotel this busy.
From Salon • Mar. 7, 2026
Though the technology can help managers express themselves more effectively, it can also make basic factual mistakes or come off as generic and impersonal.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026
"My care has been inadequate, not joined up and impersonal," she said.
From BBC • Nov. 18, 2025
If one filters out banal and impersonal events, most of what’s left are astounding aberrations and coincidences, and one’s mind begins to resemble the headlines of supermarket tabloids.
From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos
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.
