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impertinence

[im-pur-tn-uh ns]
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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

  1. impersonality,
  2. impersonalize,
  3. impersonate,
  4. impersonation,
  5. impersonator,
  6. impertinency,
  7. impertinent,
  8. impertinently,
  9. imperturbable,
  10. imperturbation

Origin of impertinence

First recorded in 1595–1605; impertin(ency) + -ence
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for impertinence

British Dictionary definitions for impertinence

impertinence

impertinency

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
Word Origin and History for impertinence

impertinence

n.

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