impropriety

USAGE SUMMARY

"impropriety" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is a noun that refers to a failure to adhere to accepted standards or behaviors, typically involving inappropriate actions or behavior. Use it in a sentence: The politician's frequent scandals were met with accusations of moral impropriety from the public.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

But when contacted previously, his lawyer had said it was a private matter and involved no impropriety.

The Guardian - Business

A council has dropped a five-year, £200,000 legal campaign trying to unmask a blogger called Mr Monkey, who made allegations of impropriety against four senior members of the authority.

The Guardian

PBS initially denied any impropriety by taking Arnold's money, but soon returned the funds after public outrage.

The Guardian - Opinion

A week later Profumo denied in parliament any "impropriety whatever" in his relations with Keeler, but on 5 June he admitted lying and resigned.

The Guardian

In his defence, Sabey told the court he considered Brunt to be a "whistle blower" who wanted to expose impropriety or wrongdoing.

The Guardian

Cyrus is in full-on post-Disney mode: something we've seen before, but her ownership of it is more wilful in its impropriety – including, but certainly not limited to, sexuality – than, say, Britney and Justin were before her.

The Guardian - Opinion

While there is nothing to suggest impropriety on behalf of senior Ofsted figures in the east of England, the Observer understands that close relationships were formed between De Souza and Ofsted's director and his deputy in the area, Sean Harford and Paul Brooker.

The Guardian

It is now unthinkable that play might be halted for a day because of accusations of umpiring impropriety, as happened following the Shakoor Rana affair during England's tour of Pakistan in 1987.

The Economist

Avoiding the perception of impropriety in the administration of justice is a compelling state goal, he writes, and banning personal solicitation by judicial candidates is a narrowly tailored strategy for advancing it.

The Economist

His predecessor in the position, Norihiko Akagi, was compelled to resign after the July upper-house election, having battled various allegations of impropriety connected to political finance.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

But he does insist that "limitations exist on officers' ability to use wholly innocent conduct on this Nation's roadways as justification for seizing individuals to investigate inarticulable suspicions of impropriety .Two of the Court's liberal justices joined the majority with some misgivings.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "impropriety" in formal contexts where a more nuanced term is needed to express disapproval of actions that are not necessarily illegal but are still unethical or inappropriate.

Common error

Don't assume that "impropriety" always implies illegal actions. It often refers to unethical or inappropriate behavior that falls short of legal violations.

Linguistic Context

The noun "impropriety" functions as a descriptor for actions or behaviors that deviate from established norms or ethical standards. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in denoting financial, sexual, or political misconduct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "impropriety" is a versatile noun used to describe actions that deviate from accepted standards, often implying unethical or inappropriate behavior. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and frequently employed in news, business, and formal communications. While often used interchangeably with terms like "misconduct" or "wrongdoing", "impropriety" doesn't necessarily imply illegality. The best practice is to use "impropriety" in formal contexts where a nuanced term is needed to express disapproval of actions that are not necessarily illegal but are still unethical or inappropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

misconduct

Refers to unacceptable or improper behavior, especially by officials or professionals; broadens the scope beyond mere inappropriateness.

wrongdoing

Implies illegal or unethical behavior; carries a stronger connotation of guilt or moral failing.

indecorum

Focuses specifically on a lack of decorum or proper behavior, particularly in formal settings; emphasizes breaches of etiquette.

unethical behavior

Directly addresses behavior that violates ethical principles or codes of conduct; highlights the moral dimension.

breach of ethics

Formal term denoting a violation of established ethical guidelines; often used in professional or legal contexts.

lapse in judgment

Emphasizes a mistake in decision-making that leads to inappropriate actions; suggests a temporary failure of good sense.

questionable conduct

Indicates behavior that raises doubts or suspicions about its appropriateness or legality; implies uncertainty.

unprofessional behavior

Relates specifically to conduct that violates the standards of a particular profession; highlights the professional context.

inappropriate behavior

A general term for conduct that is unsuitable or out of place in a given situation; lacks the stronger connotations of "impropriety".

dubious practice

Refers to a practice or method that is of questionable validity or ethics; focuses on systemic issues rather than individual actions.

FAQs

How can I use "impropriety" in a sentence?

You can use "impropriety" to describe actions that are unethical or inappropriate, such as "The investigation revealed financial impropriety within the company" or "The politician denied any impropriety in his dealings".

What are some synonyms for "impropriety"?

Alternatives to "impropriety" include "misconduct", "wrongdoing", "indecorum", and "unethical behavior", depending on the specific context.

Is "impropriety" a formal or informal term?

"Impropriety" is generally considered a formal term, often used in legal, business, or journalistic contexts. It's suitable for situations where a precise and somewhat elevated vocabulary is appropriate.

What is the difference between "impropriety" and "illegality"?

"Impropriety" refers to actions that are unethical or inappropriate but not necessarily illegal. "Illegality", on the other hand, refers specifically to actions that violate the law. An action can involve "impropriety" without being illegal, and vice versa.