impertinence
[ im-pur-tn-uh ns ]
/ ɪmˈpɜr tn əns /
noun
unmannerly intrusion or presumption; insolence.
impertinent quality or action.
something impertinent, as an act or statement.
an impertinent person.
irrelevance, inappropriateness, or absurdity.
RELATED WORDS
nerve, impropriety, gall, wisecrack, presumption, crust, lip, hardihood, impudence, assurance, incivility, brazenness, forwardness, disrespect, rudeness, chutzpah, effrontery, guff, sass, cheek
Nearby words
- impersonality,
- impersonalize,
- impersonate,
- impersonation,
- impersonator,
- impertinency,
- impertinent,
- impertinently,
- imperturbable,
- imperturbation
Origin of impertinence
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for impertinence
impertinence
impertinency
/ (ɪmˈpɜːtɪnəns) /
noun
disrespectful behaviour or language; rudeness; insolence
an impertinent act, gesture, etc
rare lack of pertinence; irrelevance; inappropriateness
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
impertinence
c.1600, from French impertinence, from Medieval Latin impertinentia, from Late Latin impertinentem "not belonging" (see impertinent). Impertinency is from 1580s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper