importunity
C2formal, literary
Definition
Meaning
persistent and annoying requests or demands
The quality of being overly insistent or pressing in solicitation, to the point of being troublesome or burdensome; often implies a disregard for the other person's willingness or convenience.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Carries a negative connotation of inappropriate persistence. It is an abstract noun derived from the adjective 'importunate'. The focus is on the *quality* of the behaviour, not the act itself.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally formal and rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally negative in both, suggesting wearisome persistence.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both corpora; slightly more attested in historical/literary texts than in contemporary usage.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[subject]'s importunityimportunity of [person/group]wearied by [possessive] importunityVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this word.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might describe overly aggressive sales tactics or relentless negotiation.
Academic
Used in literary criticism, historical texts, or social sciences to describe character behaviour or social pressure.
Everyday
Extremely rare in casual conversation. Would be replaced by 'pestering' or 'nagging'.
Technical
Not used in technical fields.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He importuned the minister for a favour.
- The beggar importuned every passer-by.
American English
- She importuned the committee for additional funding.
- Reporters importuned the celebrity for a comment.
adverb
British English
- He asked importunately, ignoring her clear reluctance.
- The child tugged importunately at her sleeve.
American English
- She looked at him importunately, hoping he would change his mind.
- The lobbyist argued importunately for the policy.
adjective
British English
- His importunate demands finally drove her away.
- She grew tired of his importunate phone calls.
American English
- The charity made an importunate appeal for donations.
- He dismissed the importunate salesman.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- His constant asking became a real annoyance.
- She was tired of his pestering.
- Eventually, worn down by her relentless importunity, he agreed to help.
- The politician was known for yielding to the importunity of wealthy donors.
- The sheer importunity of the lobbyists undermined the integrity of the legislative process.
- Samuel Johnson defined a patron as 'one who looks with unconcern on a man struggling for life in the water, and, when he has reached ground, encumbers him with help'—a critique of belated and importunate assistance.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a PORTUNE teller (importun-ity) who won't leave you alone, persistently demanding you get your fortune read.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTUNITY IS A BURDEN / IMPORTUNITY IS AN ASSAULT (e.g., 'wearied by his importunity', 'bombarded by her importunity').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'импорт' (import). The root is different.
- The closest conceptual equivalent is 'назойливость', 'докучание'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean 'importance' (confusion with 'importance').
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'an importunity'). It is usually uncountable.
- Misspelling as 'importunaty' or 'importuninity'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes 'importunity'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a formal, literary word with very low frequency in modern everyday English.
Almost never. Its core meaning carries a negative connotation of inappropriate or wearisome persistence.
'Persistence' is neutral and can be positive. 'Importunity' specifically implies persistence that has become annoying, burdensome, or disrespectful of boundaries.
Yes, the related verb is 'importune', meaning to pester or press with persistent requests.