impertinence
impertinence Lexical Profile
impertinence Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Lack of respect; rude, insolent, or presumptuous behavior or speech.
"The headmaster refused to tolerate such impertinence from a first-year student."
An insolent or disrespectful remark or act.
"She calmly ignored his petty impertinences and continued with her presentation."
The state or quality of being irrelevant or inappropriate to a particular matter, especially in legal pleading.
"The judge struck several paragraphs from the pleading on the grounds of impertinence."
Word Nuance & Usage
In modern usage, 'impertinence' almost always refers to disrespect or rudeness, whereas its older literal sense of 'irrelevance' (not pertinent) is now largely confined to formal legal contexts.
• Rhymes for impertinence
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 14th century from Old French impertinence or Late Latin impertinentia, from impertinens ('not belonging to, irrelevant'), formed from in- ('not') + pertinens ('pertaining'). The modern sense of 'presumptuous rudeness' developed in the late 17th century from the idea of meddling in matters that do not concern oneself.