Link Centre Dictionary

improper

imp·ro·per

UK/ɪmˈpɹɒp.ə/ US/ɪmˈpɹɔp.ə/ uncommon obsolete

adjective

1.

not suitable or right or appropriate

  • “slightly improper to dine alone with a married man”
  • “improper medication”
2.

not conforming to legality, moral law, or social convention

  • “an unconventional marriage”
  • “improper banking practices”
3.

not appropriate for a purpose or occasion

  • “unsuitable attire for the office”
  • “said all the wrong things”

Origin

From Middle English empropren, perhaps from an unattested Anglo-Norman variant enproprier of Anglo-Norman apropr(i)er, approprier, related to modern French approprier.

Phrases

  • improper divisor
  • improper face
  • improper fit
  • improper fraction
  • improper integral
  • improper motion
  • improper node
  • improper noun

Related words

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.