Impertinent
/ɪmˈpɜːrtɪnənt/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Impertinent describes behavior or speech that is disrespectful or rude, often because it ignores social rules about politeness. It usually means someone says or does something that is too bold or not appropriate for the situation.
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See It in Action
Showing disrespect by being rude or not polite
- •The student was impertinent when he answered the teacher back.
- •It is impertinent to ask about someone's salary at a party.
- •She made an impertinent comment that upset everyone in the meeting.
Being too bold or direct in a way that is socially wrong
- •His impertinent questions made the guests uncomfortable.
- •The reporter’s impertinent attitude annoyed the politician.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "impertinent" like "rude" (A1 word), but more about breaking polite rules in a direct or bold way
- ✓Picture a child interrupting adults loudly during a serious conversation without caring about manners
- ✓It's the feeling when someone asks a very personal question without thinking if it's polite
- ✓Sounds like "I'm-pertinent" → imagine someone saying "I'm persistent" but in a way that is too pushy or rude
- ✓In stories, the impertinent character is often the one who says what others are afraid to say but in a disrespectful way
- ✓NOT like "polite" (shows respect and good manners), impertinent is the opposite and can make others feel uncomfortable or annoyed
- ✓NOT like "curious" (which is about wanting to learn), impertinent crosses the line from curiosity into disrespect
- ✓NOT like "bold" (which can be positive), impertinent is bold in a way that is rude or inappropriate
Try Other Words
- •Disrespectful: showing lack of respect (Use when focusing on the feeling of not respecting others)
- •Impolite: not polite or courteous (Use for general manners, less strong than impertinent)
- •Insolent: very rude and showing no respect (Use when the rudeness is strong and aggressive)
- •Bold: confident and brave (Use when the behavior is direct but not necessarily rude)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: "im-" means "not" or "without"
- •Root: "pertinent" means "relevant" or "appropriate"
- •So "impertinent" literally means "not relevant" or "not appropriate"
- •Origin: From Latin "impertinens," meaning "not belonging" or "irrelevant," first used in English in the 1500s to describe something improper or rude
- •Over time, it came to mean behavior or speech that is disrespectful or boldly rude rather than just irrelevant
Reflect & Connect
•Can being impertinent ever be helpful, for example, when challenging unfair rules?
•How do different cultures view impertinent behavior—what is rude in one place may be normal in another?
Fill in the blanks
1.It is considered impertinent to ask personal questions ___ someone you just met.
2.When the child was impertinent, the teacher ___ him firmly to behave.
3.Unlike polite requests, impertinent remarks often ___ others' feelings.
4.The guest's impertinent behavior made the host feel ___ and uncomfortable.
5.People who are impertinent usually do not think about ___ social rules.
6.She shrugged off the criticism, showing that she did not care about being ___.
7.An impertinent question often ___ a conversation or makes it awkward.