inappropriate
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of inappropriate
First recorded in 1795–1805; in- 3 + appropriate
Explanation
The word "appropriate" means correct or proper and since the little prefix "in" turns its meaning around, something inappropriate is considered not proper or suitable. Nowadays, it seems, anything goes. Yet good manners and standards prevail, and some things are simply inappropriate — such as taking a toddler to a violent movie, or making jokes at someone else's expense. You wouldn't show your future father-in-law naked pictures of his daughter or wear a bathing suit to a state dinner. Those actions are simply inappropriate.
Vocabulary lists containing inappropriate
Fish in a Tree
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Nothing But the Truth
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Game Changer
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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.
The Skratch investigation comes after Mickelson left a prestigious California golf club following allegations of inappropriate contact with a female employee which he denied.
From BBC • Jul. 2, 2026
They can be highly inappropriate at times, and they can make mistakes.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 1, 2026
“It creates the opportunity for somebody to draw an inappropriate conclusion,” Michael Lebovitz, senior vice president for international tax policy at the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 30, 2026
"It is inaccurate to suggest there has been a delay, and it would be inappropriate to pre-judge the outcome of the ongoing formal process."
From BBC • Jun. 29, 2026
“It was beyond disrespectful and inappropriate, and I want you to know that I take this extremely seriously.”
From "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli
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.
