impertinent Meaning, Definition & Usage

adjective satellite characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality
saucy; irreverent; pert.
- a certain irreverent gaiety and ease of manner
adjective satellite not pertinent to the matter under consideration
orthogonal; extraneous; immaterial.
- an issue extraneous to the debate
- the price was immaterial
- mentioned several impertinent facts before finally coming to the point
adjective satellite improperly forward or bold
saucy; impudent; wise; overbold; fresh; sassy; smart.
- 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!

F., fr. L. impertinens, -entis; pref. im- not + pertinens. See Pertinent.

Not pertinent; not pertaining to the matter in hand; having no bearing on the subject; not to the point; irrelevant; inapplicable.
Things that are impertinent to us. Tillotson.

How impertinent that grief was which served no end! Jer. Taylor.
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.
Trifing; inattentive; frivolous. Syn. -- Rude; officious; intrusive; saucy; unmannerly; meddlesome; disrespectful; impudent; insolent. -- 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 want of tact, the latter a want 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 grafication 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.