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IMPERTINENT
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Dictionary entry overview: What does impertinent mean?
• IMPERTINENT (adjective)
The adjective IMPERTINENT has 3 senses:
1. characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality
2. not pertinent to the matter under consideration
3. improperly forward or bold
Familiarity information: IMPERTINENT used as an adjective is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality
Synonyms:
impertinent; irreverent; pert; saucy
Context example:
a certain irreverent gaiety and ease of manner
Similar:
spirited (displaying animation, vigor, or liveliness)
Derivation:
impertinence (inappropriate playfulness)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Not pertinent to the matter under consideration
Synonyms:
extraneous; immaterial; impertinent; orthogonal
Context example:
mentioned several impertinent facts before finally coming to the point
Similar:
irrelevant (having no bearing on or connection with the subject at issue)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Improperly forward or bold
Synonyms:
fresh; impertinent; impudent; overbold; sassy; saucy; smart; wise
Context example:
Don't get wise with me!
Similar:
forward (used of temperament or behavior; lacking restraint or modesty)
Derivation:
impertinence (the trait of being rude and impertinent; inclined to take liberties)
Context examples
I hope they are not so impertinent as to follow us.
(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)
"You impertinent boy! Of course I'm not," exclaimed Sallie, with an air that proved the contrary.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
Certainly; it would indeed be very impertinent and inhuman in me to trouble you with any inquisitiveness of mine.
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
‘Jephro,’ said she, ‘there is an impertinent fellow upon the road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.’
(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
It may seem impertinent in me to praise, but I must admire the taste Mrs. Grant has shewn in all this.
(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)
I feel that I should certainly have been impertinent.
(Emma, by Jane Austen)
I told him of all that had occurred to make my former interference in his affairs absurd and impertinent.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
If the impertinent remarks of Mrs. Jennings are to be the proof of impropriety in conduct, we are all offending every moment of our lives.
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
My dear, said Mr. Micawber, with some heat, it may be better for me to state distinctly, at once, that if I were to develop my views to that assembled group, they would possibly be found of an offensive nature: my impression being that your family are, in the aggregate, impertinent Snobs; and, in detail, unmitigated Ruffians.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
They are very often amazingly impertinent if you do not treat them with spirit, and make them keep their distance.
(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)
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