Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Rude, disrespectful, or improperly bold: Showing a lack of respect, especially in speech or manner, by being overly forward or presumptuous.
   • Not pertinent; irrelevant: Not connected with or relevant to the matter being considered.
   • Lightly pert and exuberant: Characterized by a cheeky, lively, and irreverent quality.

Usage

• Use "impertinent" to describe a person, remark, question, or behavior that is disrespectfully bold or intrusive.
• Use "impertinent" in formal or serious contexts to describe something as irrelevant or unrelated to the subject at hand.
• The word often carries a tone of disapproval when describing rudeness, but can be more neutral or even slightly positive when describing a playful, irreverent attitude.

Examples

• Adjective (Rude/Bold):
  • The student was punished for his impertinent remarks to the teacher.
  • It is impertinent to ask a stranger about their salary.
• Adjective (Irrelevant):
  • The lawyer objected, stating the question was impertinent to the case.
  • His lengthy anecdote was amusing but completely impertinent to our discussion.
• Adjective (Pert/Exuberant):
  • She answered with an impertinent grin that charmed everyone in the room.
  • The novel is narrated with an impertinent wit that delights readers.

Advanced Usage

• Legal Context: In law, an "impertinent" matter in a pleading or argument is one that is not necessary or proper to the case.
  • The judge ordered the impertinent allegations to be struck from the record.
• Formal Reproach: Used to formally chastise someone for overstepping boundaries.
  • "I find your suggestion impertinent, sir," she replied coldly.

Variants and Related Words

• Impertinence (noun): The quality of being impertinent; rudeness or irrelevance.
  • He had the impertinence to correct his boss in front of the entire team.
• Impertinently (adverb): In an impertinent manner.
  • The child spoke impertinently to his elder.

Synonyms

• For "rude/bold": Impudent, insolent, cheeky, fresh, saucy, brazen.
• For "irrelevant": Extraneous, immaterial, unrelated, beside the point.
• For "pert/exuberant": Irreverent, flip, playful.

Antonyms

• For "rude/bold": Polite, respectful, deferential, courteous.
• For "irrelevant": Pertinent, relevant, material, germane, applicable.

Idioms and Phrases

• None directly formed with "impertinent": The word itself is typically used in standard adjective form within phrases like "impertinent question" or "impertinent behavior."

Adjective

1. improperly forward or bold
   • don't be fresh with me
   • impertinent of a child to lecture a grownup
   • an impudent boy given to insulting strangers
   • Don't get wise with me!
2. not pertinent to the matter under consideration
   • an issue extraneous to the debate
   • the price was immaterial
   • mentioned several impertinent facts before finally coming to the point
3. characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality
   • a certain irreverent gaiety and ease of manner