malapropos

American  

[mal-ap-ruh-poh] / ˌmæl æp rəˈpoʊ /

adjective

1. inappropriate; out of place; inopportune; untimely.

   a malapropos remark.

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adverb

1. inappropriately; inopportunely.

malapropos British  

/ ˌmælæprəˈpəʊ /

adjective

1. of an inappropriate or misapplied nature or kind

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adverb

1. in an inappropriate way or manner

noun

1. something inopportune or inappropriate

Etymology

Origin of malapropos

First recorded in 1660–70, malapropos is from French mal à propos “badly (suited) to the purpose”

Example Sentences

On the other hand, never express dissatisfaction with a response, however absurd or malapropos it may be.

From The Measurement of Intelligence An Explanation of and a Complete Guide for the Use of the Stanford Revision and Extension of the Binet-Simon Intelligence Scale by Cubberley, Ellwood Patterson

"A caller would come singularly malapropos just now," said he.

From Jason by Forman, Justus Miles

This very malapropos visit of Mr. Pickwick to the firm was, as I said, a mistake and damaged his case. 

From Bardell v. Pickwick by Fitzgerald, Percy Hethrington

And Bayle, in his somewhat diffuse discourses, has forgotten himself so far as to do Richeome the honour of annotating him very malapropos.

From Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary by Voltaire

Mrs. Lashmar had a genius for the malapropos.

From Our Friend the Charlatan by Gissing, George