Meaning & use
flippant
Last updated
UK/ˈflɪpənt/
US/ˈflɪpənt/
Usage warning: this word is disapproving. It shows a negative opinion, so take care with who and what you use it about.
Meaning
adjectivecomparable
Treating a serious matter with careless humor or too little respect.
Grammar: Describes a person or remark: a flippant answer.
Patterns
- flippant about something
- a flippant remark
His flippant reply upset the grieving family.
Don't be flippant about safety rules.
She gave a flippant answer to a serious question.
Word forms
| comparative | more flippant |
|---|---|
| superlative | most flippant |
Common combinations
- flippant remark
- One flippant remark ruined the meeting.
- flippant tone
- She used a flippant tone about the accident.
- flippant attitude
- His flippant attitude annoyed the judge.
- flippant about
- Don't be flippant about money.
- sound flippant
- I did not mean to sound flippant.
Synonyms and how they differ
- glib
- Glib stresses smooth, shallow talk that hides lack of thought, while flippant stresses lack of respect.
- offhand
- Offhand suggests casual and unprepared, which may be rude but not as mocking.
- facetious
- Facetious implies a deliberate joke at an unsuitable time.
- disrespectful
- Disrespectful is broader and does not need humor.
Opposites
Word family
- flippancy noun
- the quality of being flippant
- flippantly adverb
- in a flippant way
- flip verb
- to turn over (a distant relative)
Commonly confused: flippant or frivolous?
flippant vs frivolous
Frivolous describes silly or unimportant things; flippant describes disrespectful handling of serious matters.
Practice
Making jokes at a funeral would be considered ____ by most people.
Choose one answer.
Flippant means lacking respect for serious matters. Sincere, reverent and modest suggest the opposite.
Make it your own
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