impertinent

American  

[im-pur-tn-uhnt] / ɪmˈpɜr tn ənt /

adjective

1. intrusive or presumptuous, as persons or their actions; insolently rude; uncivil.

   a brash, impertinent youth.

   Synonyms:

   brazen, pert, saucy, officious, insulting, bold, fresh

   Antonyms:

   polite

2. not pertinent or relevant; irrelevant.

   an impertinent detail.

3. Archaic. inappropriate, incongruous, or absurd.

4. Obsolete. (of persons) trivial, silly, or absurd.

---

impertinent British  

/ ɪmˈpɜːtɪnənt /

adjective

1. rude; insolent; impudent

2. irrelevant or inappropriate

---

Synonym Usage

Impertinent, impudent, insolent refer to bold, rude, and arrogant behavior. Impertinent, from its primary meaning of not pertinent and hence inappropriate or out of place, has come to imply often an unseemly intrusion into what does not concern one, or a presumptuous rudeness toward one entitled to deference or respect: an impertinent interruption, question, manner toward a teacher. Impudent suggests a bold and shameless impertinence: an impudent speech, young rascal. Insolent suggests insulting or arrogantly contemptuous behavior: unbearably insolent toward those in authority.

Other Word Forms

• impertinently
  adverb
• impertinentness
  noun
• unimpertinent
  adjective
• unimpertinently
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of impertinent

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English from Late Latin impertinent- (stem of impertinēns ) “not belonging.” See im- ², pertinent

Explanation

If someone's rude without being openly nasty, like a kid in the back row of class quietly heckling his teacher, you can call him impertinent. Impertinent originally meant just what it sounds like, "not pertinent, irrelevant," but it also came to mean "inappropriate, out of place" and therefore "intrusive, presumptuous; behaving without proper respect; insolent." It still carries a condescending air, so it's best used of or to a child being snippy to a grownup: "Don't be impertinent!" The stress is on the second syllable: im-PERT-inent.

Example Sentences

Impertinent psychologising possessed me while the film redeemed itself with a splendidly Shakespearean car and train smash.

From The Guardian • Mar. 31, 2016

But Ana Maria, blue-blooded daughter of a wealthy Bahian cattle rancher, industrialist and political potentate, sniffed: "Impertinent and presumptuous."

From Time Magazine Archive

Impertinent curiosity is offensive, not only because it shews an indifference to the feelings of the person questioned, but because it savours of gratuitous interference in his affairs.

From Progressive Morality An Essay in Ethics by Fowler, Thomas

"Impertinent creature!" hissed Carl under his breath as he began busily to examine his skate straps.

From Hans Brinker; or, the Silver Skates by Dodge, Mary Mapes

Impertinent puppy; to ruffle the temper of a man of fashion with hints of prudence and morality, and paying his debts—all this from a servant too.

From Next Door Neighbours A Comedy in Three Acts by Inchbald, Mrs.