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

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

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

Tucking opposition to the protest movement in a flippant screed against Gen Z isn’t just obnoxious and cowardly, it’s dangerous, columnist Lorraine Ali says.

From Los Angeles Times

But tucking one’s opposition to the protest movement into a flippant screed against Gen Z isn’t just obnoxious, it’s dangerous.

From Los Angeles Times

He has made quips about veteran suicide, the Holocaust and child abuse that many moderate Republicans viewed as flippant.

From Salon

Related Words

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