DEFINITIONS

improper

[ im-prop-er ]
/ ɪmˈprɒp ər /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR improper ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

not proper; not strictly belonging, applicable, correct, etc.; erroneous: He drew improper conclusions from the scant evidence.
not in accordance with propriety of behavior, manners, etc.: improper conduct at a funeral.
unsuitable or inappropriate, as for the purpose or occasion: improper attire for a formal dance.
abnormal or irregular: improper functioning of the speech mechanism.

Content related to improper

womynRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
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Snuck Or Sneaked?You may have heard that snuck as the past tense of sneak is improper English, but does this designation hold water? Like leaked as the past tense of leak, sneaked was the original past tense and past participle for sneak, which means “to move in a stealthy or furtive manner.” Used as early as the late 1800s, snuck has become the standard variant past tense …
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Words related to improper

incorrect, unwarranted, inadmissible, inaccurate, irregular, inappropriate, wrong, erroneous, awkward, ill-advised, imprudent, false, untoward, unjust, indecent, wrongful, unseemly, unethical, abnormal, discordant

Words nearby improper

imprison, improbability, improbable, improbity, impromptu, improper, improper fraction, improper integral, improperia, impropriate, impropriety

Origin of improper

From the Latin word improprius, dating back to 1535–45. See im-2, proper

SYNONYMS FOR improper

1–3 inapplicable, unsuited, unfit.
2 indecorous. Improper, indecent, unbecoming, unseemly are applied to that which is unfitting or not in accordance with propriety. Improper has a wide range, being applied to whatever is not suitable or fitting, and often specifically to what does not conform to the standards of conventional morality: improper diet; improper behavior in church; improper language. Indecent, a strong word, is applied to what is offensively contrary to standards of propriety and especially of modesty: indecent behavior, literature. Unbecoming is applied to what is especially unfitting in the person concerned: conduct unbecoming a minister. Unseemly is applied to whatever is unfitting or improper under the circumstances: unseemly mirth.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR improper ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM improper

im·prop·er·ly, adverbim·prop·er·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for improper

British Dictionary definitions for improper

improper
/ (ɪmˈprɒpə) /

adjective

lacking propriety; not seemly or fitting
unsuitable for a certain use or occasion; inappropriatean improper use for a tool
irregular or abnormal

Derived forms of improper

improperly, adverbimproperness, noun
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