impertinency
RareFormal, Literary, Archaic
Definition
Meaning
Impudent insolence; rudeness or intrusion beyond the bounds of good manners or propriety.
An irrelevant or trivial point; something that does not pertain to the matter at hand.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a count noun meaning 'an impertinent act or remark', but also used as an uncountable abstract noun for the quality of being impertinent. It is largely superseded in modern usage by 'impertinence', with 'impertinency' having a distinctly archaic or deliberately old-fashioned flavor.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is equally rare and archaic in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotes a bygone era of formal social reprimand; may be used for deliberate stylistic effect to evoke a historical or literary context.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both, with 'impertinence' being the standard modern form. It may appear slightly more often in British texts due to a stronger preservation of archaic legal or literary vocabulary, but this is marginal.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + such impertinency (e.g., 'He would not tolerate such impertinency.')[adjective] + impertinency (e.g., 'She was astonished by his sheer impertinency.')impertinency + [prepositional phrase] (e.g., 'an impertinency of the highest order')Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this archaic form. Related: 'a piece of impertinence'.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used in modern business contexts.
Academic
Only in historical or literary analysis, e.g., 'The theme of social hierarchy and impertinency in Shakespeare's comedies.'
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- No verb form. Use 'to be impertinent'.
American English
- No verb form. Use 'to act impertinently'.
adverb
British English
- No direct adverb. Use 'impertinently'. e.g., 'He spoke impertinently to the magistrate.'
American English
- No direct adverb. Use 'impertinently'. e.g., 'She answered impertinently.'
adjective
British English
- No direct adjective. Use 'impertinent'. e.g., 'His impertinent remarks.'
American English
- No direct adjective. Use 'impertinent'. e.g., 'That was an impertinent question.'
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Not applicable for this word.
- Not applicable for this word.
- The servant was dismissed for his impertinency.
- The judge admonished the barrister for the impertinency of his line of questioning, which was irrelevant to the case.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'IMPERial TENants being CYnical' – imperial tenants showing cynical disrespect to their landlord.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTUNITY IS A SOCIAL BOUNDARY VIOLATION (e.g., 'crossing a line', 'overstepping').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not to be confused with 'неуместность' (inappropriateness), though related. The core is disrespectful intrusion, not mere misfit. Closer to 'дерзость', 'наглость', but with a formal, archaic tone.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in a modern, casual context. Spelling it as 'impertinance' or 'impertinensy'. Confusing it with 'impermanency' (the state of not being permanent).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the closest synonym to 'impertinency' in its core meaning?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in meaning they are identical. 'Impertinency' is simply an older, now largely archaic, variant of the modern standard 'impertinence'.
Almost never in speech or modern writing. Its use is confined to historical fiction, quoting archaic texts, or as a deliberate stylistic choice to sound old-fashioned or formal to the point of irony.
It is a noun, specifically a count noun (an impertinency) and an uncountable abstract noun (full of impertinency).
It is a specific type of rudeness: insolent disrespect that intrudes on social or conversational boundaries. It implies a lack of awareness of or disregard for one's proper place or the topic's relevance.