impropriety
Americannoun
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improprieties
plural
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the quality or condition of being improper; incorrectness.
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inappropriateness; unsuitableness.
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unseemliness; indecorousness.
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an erroneous or unsuitable expression, act, etc.
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an improper use of a word or phrase.
noun
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lack of propriety; indecency; indecorum
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an improper act or use
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the state of being improper
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of impropriety
From the Late Latin word improprietās, dating back to 1605–15. See im- 2, propriety
Explanation
When the boss's husband shows up at a formal dinner party and proceeds to stuff his pockets full of hors d'oeuvres, no one dares to mention his impropriety above a whisper, especially to the boss. Impropriety is a violation of a rule of behavior, manners, or etiquette. So while it is fitting and proper to wear a bikini top and a sarong to the beach, to do so at church would be considered an impropriety. Some find a bit of impropriety charming. Somerset Maugham went so far as to say, “Impropriety is the soul of wit.”
Vocabulary lists containing impropriety
"The Declaration of Sentiments" (1848)
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Simply Scandalous!
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Copper Sun
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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.
See Examples For:
Fain, 57 years old, has denied impropriety, and said the monitor holds a “political grudge” against him.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
Through all of the murky questions about the differences between power and glory, decency and impropriety, De Palma lands on a remarkable base of human connection that elevates “Blow Out” beyond the average thriller.
From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2026
However, Jackson's later years would be punctuated by scandal, including revelations of marital infidelity and financial impropriety involving his son and political heir, Jesse Jackson Jr, who served as a congressman from Illinois.
From BBC ● Feb. 17, 2026
Druckenmiller has been careful about his contact with Bessent since he became Treasury secretary, according to someone close to the investor, to avoid the appearance of impropriety.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 2, 2026
On the other hand, if the intentions of the merchant were not honorable, you’d better believe that she’d be heading in their direction to inform them of their malfeasance and impropriety.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
We remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 4, 2026
Just over a year after it acquired the business, HPE announced it was writing down the value of Autonomy by $8.8bn because it had found "serious accounting improprieties".
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2025
He’d been ousted from the Bears club, presumably because of the financial improprieties, and now he was coaching an adult group, called a masters team, on the university campus.
From Salon ● Aug. 3, 2024
Lamont’s office issued a statement saying the governor took steps in 2021 to remove Diamantis from his government jobs when “allegations of ethical improprieties surfaced.”
From Seattle Times ● May 16, 2024
Not for a moment does Lady Chetwoode—dear soul—think of improprieties, or wrong-doing, or the "decencies of society."
From Airy Fairy Lilian by Margaret Wolfe Hamilton (AKA Duchess)
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.
