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”

Explanation

It would be malapropos to wear full clown makeup to your cousin's formal wedding. In other words, it wouldn't be appropriate. Use the adjective malapropos to describe something that is awkwardly unsuitable for the situation or setting at hand. Telling jokes at a funeral or bringing your pet piglet to tea at the Queen's castle would both be highly malapropos. The word comes from the French phrase mal à propos, literally "badly for the purpose." As it's French, you don't pronounce the final s.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

malapropos

To him the man habitually seemed as malapropos as a spiteful old lady.

From Queed by Raymond Moreau Crosby

And he permitted himself a little blaspheming on his own account, for the visitor, as Ste. Marie had said, came most malapropos, and, besides, he disliked Miss Benham's uncle.

From Jason by Justus Miles Forman

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 Percy Hethrington Fitzgerald

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

Bridgie, detained at home by malapropos ailments on the part of the children, wrote urgent letters by daily posts, contradicting herself on every point saving one alone—the advisability of delay.

From The Love Affairs of Pixie by Mrs. George de Horne Vaizey