Meaning & use
impropriety
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Meanings
nouncountable or uncountableformal
Behavior that is not proper, honest or suited to the situation.
Grammar: Uncountable in general (accused of impropriety); countable for an act (financial improprieties).
Patterns
- an impropriety
- accused of impropriety
- impropriety by someone
The mayor denied any impropriety in the contract.
An investigation found no financial impropriety.
She avoided even the appearance of impropriety.
nouncountableformalrare
A wrong or unsuitable use of a word or expression.
Grammar: Rare in modern use; refers to a language mistake.
Patterns
- an impropriety of language
The critic noted an impropriety in the author's choice of word.
Such improprieties of speech were corrected at school.
The editor flagged each impropriety in the draft.
Word forms
| plural | improprieties |
|---|
Common combinations
- financial impropriety
- The charity was accused of financial impropriety.
- allegations of impropriety
- The board faced allegations of impropriety.
- appearance of impropriety
- Judges avoid even an appearance of impropriety.
- deny impropriety
- The minister denied any impropriety.
- suggest impropriety
- Nothing in the report suggests impropriety.
Synonyms and how they differ
- misconduct
- Misconduct names wrongdoing in a job or role, while impropriety may mean only unsuitable behavior.
- wrongdoing
- Wrongdoing is plainer and can mean serious crime, but impropriety sounds more formal and vague.
- indecency
- Indecency points to offensive behavior, while impropriety is broader.
- irregularity
- Irregularity hints at rules not followed, often in accounts, rather than moral failure.
Opposites
Word family
- improper adjective
- not suitable or not honest
- improperly adverb
- in a wrong or unsuitable way
- propriety noun
- correct, polite behavior
- proper adjective
- correct or suitable
Commonly confused: impropriety or improbability?
impropriety vs improbability
Improbability means unlikelihood, unrelated to behavior despite similar letters.
Practice
The official was cleared of any ___ in handling the funds.
Choose one answer.
Cleared of wrongdoing needs impropriety. Propriety is the opposite, and property and improbability do not fit.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “impropriety”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.