Impertinent Meaning
/ɪmˈpɜː.tɪ.nənt/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjInsolent, ill-mannered or disrespectful; Disregardful.
adjNot pertaining or related to (something or someone); Irrelevant or useless.
Sentence Examples
He was impertinent to his father.
It was impertinent of you to behave like that.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The student's ____ remarks to the principal got him sent to the office.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The teacher felt that the student's personal question was quite ____ and disrespectful.
Word Origin & History
Inherited from Middle English impertinent, from Middle French impertinent, from Old French impertinent, from Latin impertinēns; by surface analysis, im- + pertinent.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"“Divine receptacle of excellence, let it not be deemed impertinent, or deviating from the rules of propriety, if I propound one queſtion which now labours in my breaſt; aſſuring me firſt, you will not let the ſceptre of true judgment depart from your right hand.”"
— 1769, Firishta, translated by Alexander Dow, Tales translated from the Persian of Inatulla of Delhi, volume I, Dublin: P. and W. Wilson et al., page 11:
"Curious speculations, and the contemplation of things that are impertinent to us, and do not concern us, nor serve to promote our happiness, are but a more specious and ingenious sort of idleness"
— 1664, John Tillotson, “Sermon I. The Wisdom of Being Religious. Job XXVIII. 28.”, in The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury: […], London: […] B. Aylmer, […]; [a]nd W. Rogers, […], published 1696, →OCLC:
"How impertinent that grief was which served no end!"
— 1651, Jer[emy] Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Francis Ashe […], →OCLC:
"Get near fat Mr. Dutton, and behind the screen of his prodigious elbow, you will be comfortably recessed from curious impertinents."
— 1808 (date written), [Maria] Edgeworth, “Manœuvring. Chapter XII.”, in Tales of Fashionable Life, volume III, London: […] [S. Hamilton] for J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1809, →OCLC, page 292:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The student's ____ remarks to the principal got him sent to the office.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The teacher felt that the student's personal question was quite ____ and disrespectful.