English Meaning & Definitions
A failure to observe standards or show due honesty or modesty; improper behavior or character.
- “The senator resigned following allegations of financial impropriety during his campaign.”
- “She was shocked by the impropriety of his remarks at such a formal dinner party.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “impropriety”.
Derived from the Middle English 'impropriete', borrowed from Old French 'impropriété', which traces back to the Latin 'improprietas'. It is formed by the prefix 'im-' (not) combined with 'proprietas' (property, quality, or fitness), ultimately rooted in 'proprius' (one's own). Historically, it evolved from meaning 'lack of ownership' to its current sense of 'lack of fitness or proper conduct'.
Think of 'im-' (not) + 'proper' (correct/fitting) + 'ty' (state of). It is the state of not being proper.
Frequently Asked Questions About “impropriety”
1. What is the meaning of “impropriety” in English?
In English, impropriety (noun) is defined as: “A failure to observe standards or show due honesty or modesty; improper behavior or character.”.
2. How do you use “impropriety” in a sentence?
“The senator resigned following allegations of financial impropriety during his campaign.”
3. What are English synonyms of “impropriety”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “impropriety”?
Derived from the Middle English 'impropriete', borrowed from Old French 'impropriété', which traces back to the Latin 'improprietas'. It is formed by the prefix 'im-' (not) combined with 'proprietas' (property, quality, or fitness), ultimately rooted in 'proprius' (one's own). Historically, it evolved from meaning 'lack of ownership' to its current sense of 'lack of fitness or proper conduct'.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.