'Impertinent' definitions:

Definition of 'impertinent'

From: WordNet
adjective
Characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality; "a certain irreverent gaiety and ease of manner" [syn: impertinent, irreverent, pert, saucy]
adjective
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" [syn: extraneous, immaterial, impertinent, orthogonal]
adjective
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!" [syn: fresh, impertinent, impudent, overbold, smart, saucy, sassy, wise]

Definition of 'Impertinent'

From: GCIDE
  • Impertinent \Im*per"ti*nent\, a. [F., fr. L. impertinens, -entis; pref. im- not + pertinens. See Pertinent.]
  • 1. Not pertinent; not pertaining to the matter in hand; having no bearing on the subject; not to the point; irrelevant; inapplicable. [1913 Webster]
  • Things that are impertinent to us. --Tillotson. [1913 Webster]
  • How impertinent that grief was which served no end! --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Contrary to, or offending against, the rules of propriety or good breeding; guilty of, or prone to, rude, unbecoming, or uncivil words or actions; as, an impertient coxcomb; an impertient remark. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Trifing; inattentive; frivolous.
  • Syn: Rude; officious; intrusive; saucy; unmannerly; meddlesome; disrespectful; impudent; insolent.
  • Usage: Impertinent, Officious, Rude. A person is officious who obtrudes his offices or assistance where they are not needed; he is impertinent when he intermeddles in things with which he has no concern. The former shows a lack of tact, the latter a lack of breeding, or, more commonly, a spirit of sheer impudence. A person is rude when he violates the proprieties of social life either from ignorance or wantonness. "An impertinent man will ask questions for the mere gratification of curiosity; a rude man will burst into the room of another, or push against his person, inviolant of all decorum; one who is officious is quite as unfortunate as he is troublesome; when he strives to serve, he has the misfortune to annoy." --Crabb. See Impudence, and Insolent. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Impertinent'

From: GCIDE
  • Impertinent \Im*per"ti*nent\, n. An impertinent person. [R.] [1913 Webster]

Words containing 'Impertinent'