improper
adjective
im·prop·er (ˌ)im-ˈprä-pər 
: not proper: such as
a
: not in accord with propriety, modesty, good manners, or good taste
improper language
b
: not suited to the circumstances, design, or end
improper medicine
c
: not regularly or normally formed or not properly so called
d
: not in accord with fact, truth, or right procedure : incorrect
improper inference
improperly adverb
improperness noun
Synonyms
- amiss
- graceless
- inapposite
- inappropriate
- inapt
- incongruous
- incorrect
- indecorous
- inept
- infelicitous
- malapropos
- perverse
- unapt
- unbecoming
- unfit
- unhappy
- unseemly
- unsuitable
- untoward
- wrong
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The doctor gave him an improper diagnosis. They claim to have evidence of improper police conduct. improper use of public land This is an improper diet for a growing teenager. It would be improper for me to ask such a favor of her. He made some improper remarks. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Malakah Sanford, 22, of the 6700 block of East End Avenue, Chicago, was charged Aug. 31 with driving without a driver’s license and improper use of a seat belt at the intersection of Dempster and Parkside Streets, police said. 
Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 Biden administration officials considered the request an improper use of federal troops and assets, according to people familiar with their thinking. Michelle Hackman, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022 Worse than improper use of drugs, is the low quality of the drugs that people get on the street, and end up dead because of drugs formulated by idiots. Anchorage Daily News, 5 Aug. 2022 The group's legal counsel in that lawsuit, Roger Teich, suggested that the ban was improper. Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 18 Aug. 2022 In his order, Burke denied a new trial because evidence precluded at trial wasn’t improper. Paul Gattis | Pgattis@al.com, al, 6 Aug. 2022 Some accessibility advocates said the alt text depicted in the campaign was improper, in some instances for failing to adequately describe the picture, in others for providing quippy bits of extra information not related to the image. Katie Deighton, WSJ, 15 July 2022 At that time, it was generally believed that sweating was improper and that white clothing would either curb a player’s perspiration or hide it, Time reported. Julian Mark, Washington Post, 11 July 2022 Suspicious activity reports are filed by financial institutions when clients make large cash transactions or transfers that could signal criminal activity, such as tax evasion or money laundering, although many such transactions are not improper. Catherine Herridge, CBS News, 7 July 2022 See More
Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 Biden administration officials considered the request an improper use of federal troops and assets, according to people familiar with their thinking. Michelle Hackman, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022 Worse than improper use of drugs, is the low quality of the drugs that people get on the street, and end up dead because of drugs formulated by idiots. Anchorage Daily News, 5 Aug. 2022 The group's legal counsel in that lawsuit, Roger Teich, suggested that the ban was improper. Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 18 Aug. 2022 In his order, Burke denied a new trial because evidence precluded at trial wasn’t improper. Paul Gattis | Pgattis@al.com, al, 6 Aug. 2022 Some accessibility advocates said the alt text depicted in the campaign was improper, in some instances for failing to adequately describe the picture, in others for providing quippy bits of extra information not related to the image. Katie Deighton, WSJ, 15 July 2022 At that time, it was generally believed that sweating was improper and that white clothing would either curb a player’s perspiration or hide it, Time reported. Julian Mark, Washington Post, 11 July 2022 Suspicious activity reports are filed by financial institutions when clients make large cash transactions or transfers that could signal criminal activity, such as tax evasion or money laundering, although many such transactions are not improper. Catherine Herridge, CBS News, 7 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Middle French impropre, from Latin improprius, from in- + proprius proper
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing improper
Kids Definition
improper
adjective
im·prop·er im-ˈprä-pər
: not proper, right, or suitable
He used improper grammar.
Legal Definition
improper
adjective
im·prop·er
: not proper: as
a
: not in accord with correct procedure
an improper venue
b
: wrongful
specifically : in violation of a constitution
the denial of trial by jury was held improper
improper
adjective
as in inappropriate
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation an improper use of slang in a formal piece of writing Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- inappropriate
- incorrect
- unsuitable
- wrong
- unfit
- unhappy
- irrelevant
- unseemly
- unfortunate
- indecorous
- incongruous
- infelicitous
- unacceptable
- unbecoming
- inconsistent
- inapt
- bad
- perverse
- inept
- untoward
- unapt
- awkward
- graceless
- amiss
- untimely
- inapposite
- out of place
- inopportune
- unseasonable
- extraneous
- malapropos
- out of the way
- naughty
- inapplicable
- incompatible
- forbidden
- sinful
- immaterial
- mismatched
- unsatisfactory
- irrelative
- prohibited
- uncongenial
- censurable
- disallowed
- blameworthy
- ungraceful
- proscribed
- banned
- blamable
- barred
- outlawed
- interdicted
- gauche
- misbecoming
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- proper
- appropriate
- correct
- suitable
- fitting
- right
- relative
- timely
- felicitous
- decorous
- relevant
- applicable
- happy
- meet
- fit
- opportune
- becoming
- seemly
- seasonable
- apt
- befitting
- genteel
- fortunate
- adequate
- material
- compatible
- permitted
- harmonious
- congenial
- acceptable
- authorized
- pointed
- germane
- satisfactory
- apposite
- pat
- fine
- approved
- endorsed
- sanctioned
- decent
- okay
- promoted
- kosher
- tolerable
- supported
- licensed
- allowed
- respectable
- exemplary
- passable
- apropos
- indorsed
- commendable
- creditable
- encouraged
- all right
- harmonious
- balanced
- irreproachable
- blameless
- consonant
- abetted
- congruous
- companionate
- OK
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of improper are indecorous, indelicate, unbecoming, and unseemly. While all these words mean "not conforming to what is accepted as right, fitting, or in good taste," improper applies to a broader range of transgressions of rules not only of social behavior but of ethical practice or logical procedure or prescribed method.
improper use of campaign contributions
The synonyms indecorous and improper are sometimes interchangeable, but indecorous suggests a violation of accepted standards of good manners.
indecorous behavior
The words indelicate and improper can be used in similar contexts, but indelicate implies a lack of modesty or of tact or of refined perception of feeling.
indelicate expressions for bodily functions
While in some cases nearly identical to improper, unbecoming suggests behavior or language that does not suit one's character or status.
conduct unbecoming to an officer
The words unseemly and improper are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, unseemly adds a suggestion of special inappropriateness to a situation or an offensiveness to good taste.
remarried with unseemly haste
- Hippoidea
- hippolite
- hippolith
- hippologists
- hippology
- Hippolyta
- Hippolyte
- hippolytid
- Hippolytus
- hippomanes
- Hippomenes
- hippomobile
- Hippomorpha
- Hipponactean
- Hipponactean distich
- hippopathology
- hippophagism
- hippophagist
- hippophagistical
- hippophagists
- hippophagous
- hippophagy
- Hippophaë
- hippophiles
- hippopod