impropriety
/ˌɪmprəˈprʌɪəti
/noun (plural improprieties) [mass noun]
Failure to observe standards of honesty or modesty; improper behaviour or character: she was scandalized at the impropriety of the question [count noun]: there are no demonstrable legal improprieties...
- With legal impropriety, the judge bullied the jury into a finding of guilty.
- So, I read that he has been mired in accusations and allegations of corruption, sexual impropriety, and drug use.
- Wouldn't the government have acted had it been another kind of corruption like financial impropriety or something?
Synonyms
wrongdoing, misconduct, dishonesty, corruption, unscrupulousness, illegitimacy, unprofessionalism, irregularity;
inappropriateness;
unseemliness, indecorousness, indiscretion, indelicacy, injudiciousness, indecency, immorality, unwholesomeness, immodesty, indecorum, bad taste, impoliteness
transgression, misdemeanour, offence, misdeed, improper act, sin, crime, felony;
indiscretion, mistake, slip, error, blunder, lapse, peccadillo
archaic trespass
Origin
Early 17th century (also in the sense 'inaccuracy'): from French impropriété or Latin improprietas, from improprius (see improper).
Rhymes
- petted lip
- petter
- pet therapy
- petti
- pettibockers
- pettichaps
- petticoat
- petticoat breeches
- petticoat discipline
- petticoated
- petticoat government
- petticoating
- Petticoat Lane
- petticoat maker
- petticoat tail
- pettifog
- pettifogger
- pettifoggery
- pettifogging
- pettigree
- pettigrue
- pettily
- pettiness
- petting party
- petting zoo