flippant

[ flip-uhnt ]

adjective

1. frivolously disrespectful, shallow, or lacking in seriousness; characterized by levity:

   The audience was shocked by his flippant remarks about patriotism.

   Synonyms: impudent, impertinent, saucy

2. Chiefly Dialect. nimble, limber, or pliant.
3. Archaic. glib; voluble.

flippant

/ ˈflɪpənt /

adjective

1. marked by inappropriate levity; frivolous or offhand
2. impertinent; saucy
3. obsolete.
   talkative or nimble

Derived Forms

• ˈflippantly, adverb
• ˈflippancy, noun

Other Words From

• flippan·cy flippant·ness noun
• flippant·ly adverb
• un·flippant adjective
• un·flippant·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of flippant¹

1595–1605; apparently flip ¹ + -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of flippant¹

C17: perhaps from flip

Example Sentences

“The entertainment culture has taught us to have a flippant attitude that trans people aren’t real people,” Ferrell says.

From Los Angeles Times

“Ava’s sense of morality goes kind of out the window when it comes to Deborah, whether that’s protecting her, going back to her, anything, so that very flippant white lie is indicative of the fact that that’s a relationship she has to hide.”

From Los Angeles Times

Trump has long displayed adversarial and flippant views of the U.S. intelligence community, flouted safeguards over classified information and directly berated the law enforcement agencies like the FBI.

From Seattle Times

"Forcing consumers to wait hours in hot, uncomfortable arenas and subjecting them to pornography without warning is demonstrative of Madonna's flippant disrespect for her fans," the complaint said.

From Salon

Which is why, when he talked recently about losing sleep at the start of the season, it sounded like much more than some flippant comment.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cheeky
• cocky
• disrespectful
• glib
• offhand
• playful
• rude