appropriateness

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   How well something fits the situation, purpose or people involved.

   Grammar: No plural; usually followed by of or for: the appropriateness of the gift.

   Patterns

   • the appropriateness of something
   • the appropriateness of something for someone

   The committee discussed the appropriateness of the budget for a small school.

   Nobody questioned the appropriateness of her black dress at the memorial.

   Teachers must consider the appropriateness of each book for the age group.

2. 2noununcountable

   Whether behavior or language follows the social rules of a setting and avoids offending anyone.

   Grammar: Often appears with doubt or question: he questioned the appropriateness of the joke.

   Patterns

   • question the appropriateness of something

   Her manager raised concerns about the appropriateness of the comment.

   The appropriateness of jokes at work depends on the audience.

   We debated the appropriateness of posting the photo online.

Common combinations

question the appropriateness of

Parents questioned the appropriateness of the film for children.

judge the appropriateness of

The panel will judge the appropriateness of each proposal.

doubt the appropriateness

I doubt the appropriateness of wearing jeans to the interview.

social appropriateness

Children slowly learn social appropriateness at the dinner table.

cultural appropriateness

The translators checked the cultural appropriateness of every slogan.

Synonyms and how they differ

suitability

Suitability stresses fitness for a purpose, while appropriateness often adds a sense of proper manners or standards.

propriety

Propriety is more old-fashioned and focuses on correct, respectable conduct rather than general fit.

fitness

Fitness is broader and often means qualification for a task, while appropriateness is about the right match with a situation.

relevance

Relevance asks whether something relates to the topic, but appropriateness asks whether it is right for the moment.

Opposites

Word family

appropriate adjective

suitable for a particular situation

appropriately adverb

in a suitable way

inappropriate adjective

not suitable or acceptable

appropriate verb

to take something for one's own use

Commonly confused: appropriateness or appropriation?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “appropriateness”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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