improper
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improper¹
- /ɪmˈpɹɒp.ə/ UK
- /ɪmˈpɹɔp.ə/ Australia
- /ɪmˈpɹɑ.pɚ/ US
Rhymes with -ɒpə(ɹ)
Where it comes from
From Middle French impropre, from Latin improprius (“not proper”), from in- + proprius (“proper”). By surface analysis, im- + proper.
adjective more improper · most improper · impropre
- Unsuitable to needs or circumstances; inappropriate; inapt.
- Not in keeping with conventional mores or good manners; indecent or immodest. improper conduct
- Not according to facts; inaccurate or erroneous.
- Not consistent with established facts; incorrect.
- Not properly named; See, for example, improper fraction.
- Not specific or appropriate to individuals; general; common. Not to be adorned with any art but such improper ones as nature is said to bestow, as singing and poetry.
- Of a complex random variable, correlated with its conjugate.
Similar: unproper
improper²
Where it comes from
From Middle English empropren, perhaps from an unattested Anglo-Norman variant enproprier of Anglo-Norman apropr(i)er, approprier, related to modern French approprier.
verb impropers · impropering · impropered · impropre
- To appropriate; to assign (something, to someone) as a possession or prerogative. He would in like manner improper and inclose the sunbeams to comfort the rich and not the poor.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: unsuitable, inappropriate, unbecoming, unseemly, untoward, wrong, indecorous, incorrect, indecent, uncomely, irregular, unconventional, unlawful, out-of-the-way, inopportune, inexpedient
adjective
Similar: unproper
Translations
Every language
adj unsuitable to needs or circumstances
| 日本語 | そぐわない soguwanai, 不適切な futekisetsu na |
|---|---|
| हिन्दी | अनुचित anucit |
| Português | impróprio |
| Français | impropre, inapproprié, inadapté |
| Deutsch | unpassend |
| Ελληνικά | ακατάλληλος akatállilos |
| Română | impropriu |
| Русский | неуме́стный neuméstnyj, неподходя́щий nepodxodjáščij, ненадлежа́щий nenadležáščij |
adj not in keeping with conventional mores or good manners
| Español | improprio, impropio, indebido |
|---|---|
| हिन्दी | अशोभनीय aśobhnīya, अमर्यादित amaryādit |
| Português | impróprio, indecente, indecoroso |
| Français | impropre, inconvenant, grossier |
| Deutsch | unhöflich |
| Ελληνικά | ανάρμοστος anármostos |
| Русский | непристо́йный nepristójnyj, неприли́чный neprilíčnyj, некорре́ктный nekorréktnyj |
adj Not according to facts
| Português | impróprio, incorreto |
|---|---|
| Русский | непра́вильный neprávilʹnyj, оши́бочный ošíbočnyj, ло́жный lóžnyj |
adj Not consistent with established facts
| Português | impróprio, incorreto |
|---|---|
| Русский | непра́вильный neprávilʹnyj |
Talk about this word "improper." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/improper. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. improper. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/improper "improper." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/improper.Cite this
@misc{improper_2026,
title = {improper},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/improper},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
