First published 1899; not yet revised More entries for "improper"

improperadjective

Etymology
Meaning & use
Pronunciation
Frequency
Compounds & derived words

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Factsheet

What does the adjective improper mean?

There are five meanings listed in OED's entry for the adjective improper, one of which is labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

See meaning & use

How common is the adjective improper?

About 6occurrences per million words in modern written English

1750	24
1760	26
1770	30
1780	31
1790	30
1800	26
1810	23
1820	20
1830	16
1840	14
1850	11
1860	9.3
1870	8.1
1880	7.3
1890	7.0
1900	6.9
1910	6.9
1920	6.6
1930	6.4
1940	6.3
1950	6.4
1960	6.3
1970	6.0
1980	5.9
1990	5.6
2000	5.4
2010	5.3

See frequency

How is the adjective improper pronounced?

British English

/(ˌ)ɪmˈprɒpə/

im-PROP-uh

U.S. English

/ᵻmˈprɑpər/

uhm-PRAH-puhr

See pronunciation

Where does the adjective improper come from?

Earliest known use

mid 1500s

The earliest known use of the adjective improper is in the mid 1500s.

OED's earliest evidence for improper is from 1531, in the writing of Thomas Elyot, humanist and diplomat.

improper is formed within English, by derivation.

Etymons: im- prefix2, proper adj., n., & adv.

See etymology

Nearby entries

improlifical, adj.1646–56
improlificate, v.1646–50
impromiscuous, adj.1656–1792
imprompt, adj.1760
impromptitude, n.1887–
impromptu, v.1802–
impromptu, adv., n., & adj.1669–
impromptuary, adj.1827–
impromptuist, n.1882–
improof, n.1590–1641
improper, adj.1531–
improper, v.¹c1380–1642
improper, v.²1791
improperate, v.¹1623–56
improperate, v.²1656
improperation, n.¹1502–1643
improperation, n.²1536–51
improperation, n.³1658
improperium, n.1880–
improperly, adv.1390–
improperness, n.1612–

Browse more nearby entries

Etymology

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Entry history for improper, adj.

improper, adj. was first published in 1899; not yet revised.

improper, adj. was last modified in March 2024.

Revision of the OED is a long-term project. Entries in oed.com which have not been revised may include:

corrections and revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
new senses, phrases, and quotations which have been added in subsequent print and online updates.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into improper, adj. in March 2024.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1899)

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OED Second Edition (1989)

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View improper, a. in OED Second Edition

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Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. “,” , .

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“” Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford UP, , .

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Citation details

Factsheet for improper, adj.

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Nearby entries

improlifical, adj.1646–56
improlificate, v.1646–50
impromiscuous, adj.1656–1792
imprompt, adj.1760
impromptitude, n.1887–
impromptu, v.1802–
impromptu, adv., n., & adj.1669–
impromptuary, adj.1827–
impromptuist, n.1882–
improof, n.1590–1641
improper, adj.1531–
improper, v.¹c1380–1642
improper, v.²1791
improperate, v.¹1623–56
improperate, v.²1656
improperation, n.¹1502–1643
improperation, n.²1536–51
improperation, n.³1658
improperium, n.1880–
improperly, adv.1390–
improperness, n.1612–

Browse more nearby entries