inappropriate
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of inappropriate
First recorded in 1795–1805; in- 3 + appropriate
Explanation
The word "appropriate" means correct or proper and since the little prefix "in" turns its meaning around, something inappropriate is considered not proper or suitable. Nowadays, it seems, anything goes. Yet good manners and standards prevail, and some things are simply inappropriate — such as taking a toddler to a violent movie, or making jokes at someone else's expense. You wouldn't show your future father-in-law naked pictures of his daughter or wear a bathing suit to a state dinner. Those actions are simply inappropriate.
Vocabulary lists containing inappropriate
Fish in a Tree
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Nothing But the Truth
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Game Changer
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And if a party is inappropriate in a dorm room, they don’t shut down the entire dormitory.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026
Kingdom, “An action is arbitrary and capricious when the agency relies on inappropriate factors, fails to consider important aspects of the problem, or ignores relevant evidence.”
From Slate ● Oct. 21, 2026
Since then, she had felt it inappropriate to vote while living abroad.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026
A Royal Navy spokesperson confirmed a service member had been charged and added: "As legal proceedings are ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
“It’s inappropriate for a girl to invite a boy anywhere in this part of the world. They’ll think you’re engaged or something. They’ll think he’s a spy. How will I explain him?”
From "Habibi" by Naomi Shihab Nye
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
