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.

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irreverence British  

/ ɪˈrɛvərəns, ɪˈrɛvrəns /

noun

1. lack of due respect or veneration; disrespect

2. a disrespectful remark or act

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Etymology

Origin of irreverence

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

Explanation

Look into the word irreverence and you'll see the verb revere, which means to admire, worship, or look up to. Irreverence, then, is the opposite: viewing something as not worthy of admiration. The thing about irreverence is that you display it towards things that normally would call for reverence, such as a leader, a teacher, or a superstar. It's useless to show irreverence towards, say, a stray dog or a friend who's failed their driver's test the second time. Reserve irreverence for situations in which the object of your irreverence would normally inspire reverence. Addressing the president as "Dude" is the height of irreverence.

Example Sentences

At the Museum of Arts and Design in New York, “Funk You Too! Humor and Irreverence in Ceramic Sculpture” highlights 50 bold pieces created from the 1960s to present day.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 20, 2023

Irreverence can be a form of homage, and the thirty-four-year-old Feiffer gets cheeky with Chekhov’s delicate realism, sending up his habits of exposition and repetition, along with his play’s central conceit.

From The New Yorker • Jul. 29, 2019

Irreverence is a fundamental element of carnival, as are costumes mocking politicians or political scandals.

From The Guardian • Feb. 10, 2018

Irreverence may get people talking about Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep again.

From BusinessWeek • Mar. 4, 2010

Irreverence portends defects of character and poverty of intellect.

From The Beth Book Being a Study of the Life of Elizabeth Caldwell Maclure, a Woman of Genius by Grand, Sarah