irreverence

American  

[ih-rev-er-uhns] / ɪˈrɛv ər əns /

noun

1. the quality of being irreverent; lack of reverence or respect.

2. an irreverent act or statement.

3. the condition of not being reverenced, venerated, respected, etc.

---

irreverence British  

/ ɪˈrɛvərəns, ɪˈrɛvrəns /

noun

1. lack of due respect or veneration; disrespect

2. a disrespectful remark or act

---

Etymology

Origin of irreverence

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English word from Latin word irreverentia. See ir- ², reverence

Example Sentences

What stands out in Annie is its relaxed, unvarnished portrait of student life: messy hostel rooms, friends lounging on charpoys smoking and arguing about everything from bureaucracy to exams, and a breezy irreverence toward authority.

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026

"He will be remembered for his works, for their brilliance and humanity, and for his wit, his irreverence, his generosity of spirit and his profound love of the English language," United Agents added.

From BBC • Nov. 29, 2025

"He will be remembered for his works, for their brilliance and humanity, and for his wit, his irreverence, his generosity of spirit and his profound love of the English language," it said.

From Barron's • Nov. 29, 2025

Taking nothing too serious while being surrounded by complete seriousness, and with “Gutfeld!” pulling in some of the strongest ratings on TV, he’s proving that irreverence can be its own kind of relevance.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 3, 2025

His fervor for the written word was an interweaving of solemn respect and gossipy irreverence.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez