impertinent
/ɪmˈpəːtɪnənt
/adjective
1Not showing proper respect; rude: an impertinent question...
- They can ask us the most impertinent or rude questions but, obviously, we cannot ask, hint at or even think about anything approaching the same.
- The waiter was brusque to the point of being rude and impertinent, messed up the orders and was not particularly responsive.
- I suppose you think I'm rude and impertinent, barging in here and insisting I knew you.
Synonyms
rude, insolent, impolite, unmannerly, ill-mannered, bad-mannered, uncivil, discourteous, disrespectful;
impudent, cheeky, audacious, bold, brazen, brash, shameless, presumptuous, forward, pert;
tactless, undiplomatic, unsubtle, personal
informal brass-necked, fresh, flip
British informal saucy
North American informal sassy, nervy
archaic malapert, contumelious
rare mannerless
2 formal Not pertinent to a particular matter; irrelevant: talk of ‘rhetoric’ and ‘strategy’ is impertinent to this process...
- However the compilation fits together so seamlessly that it would be rather impertinent to keep on discussing individual items.
- It is so frustrating that the bleached images of the alien world are so ruggedly handsome and so unjustified and impertinent to the plot at the same time.
- The students believed that the goal of their required first-year course was to improve their writing, and for that reason my effort to pose writing as a subject of analysis was misguided at best and at worst impertinent and irrelevant.
Synonyms
irrelevant, inapplicable, inapposite, inappropriate, immaterial, unrelated, unconnected, not germane;
beside the point, out of place, nothing to do with it, neither here nor there
Derivatives
impertinently
/ adverb ...- Well, actually, in the interests of accuracy that should read ‘in the direction of’ as the Austrian Alps appear to have placed themselves, rather impertinently in my opinion, across the line of my intended route.
- Henry VIII, while somewhat impertinently nurturing his own little spiky number, attempted to ban beards as part of his break with the Pope.
- The roof came off years ago (to save rates), and a sycamore tree has impertinently taken root in its front room.
Origin
Late Middle English (in sense 2): from Old French, or from late Latin impertinent- 'not having reference to', from Latin in- 'not' + pertinere 'pertain'.