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impertinence
/ɪmˈpɜːrtɪnəns/
rudeness
She had the impertinence to ask me why I was late when she herself arrived after me.
The speaker criticizes the person for being rude by questioning their own tardiness despite being late themselves.
formal
rude or disrespectful behavior or speech, especially when it is inappropriate or unwarranted
The student's impertinence in interrupting the professor was met with a stern reprimand.
The interruption was considered disrespectful and inappropriate in an academic setting.
I was shocked by the impertinence of his request for a raise after only two weeks on the job.
The request was seen as presumptuous and lacking respect for the employer's standards.
Often implies a lack of awareness of social norms or boundaries. Can be used to describe both actions and words.
Collocations
have the impertinence toto dare to do something rude or disrespectfulutter impertinenceextreme rudeness in speech
Pro Tip
Avoiding Misuse
Impertinence specifically refers to rudeness that is inappropriate or unwarranted in a given context. It is not simply strong criticism or disagreement. For example, 'His impertinence in correcting the CEO in front of everyone was shocking' is correct, but 'His impertinence in disagreeing with the CEO' is not.
Gold Rule
Formal Tone
Use 'impertinence' in formal writing or speech when describing behavior that is not only rude but also crosses social or hierarchical boundaries. It is rarely used in casual conversation.
Word Origin
From Latin *impertinent-*, present participle of *impertinēre* ('not pertaining to'), from *in-* ('not') + *pertinēre* ('to pertain to'). The sense of 'rudeness' emerged in the 17th century from the idea of speech or behavior that does not pertain to the matter at hand.
Usage Notes
Impertinence carries a stronger connotation of disrespect than mere 'rudeness' and is often used in formal or literary contexts. It can imply a lack of awareness of one's place or the appropriateness of a situation.
Word Breakdown
im-
not
prefixpertinere
to pertain to
root-ence
state or quality of
suffixEnglish Dictionary