impersonal

adjective

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im·per·son·al | \ (ˌ)im-ˈpərs-nəl

, -ˈpər-sə-nəl \

Definition of impersonal

1a : having no personal reference or connection impersonal criticism

b : not engaging the human personality or emotions the machine as compared with the hand tool is an impersonal agency— John Dewey

c : not existing as a person : not having human qualities or characteristics

2a : denoting the verbal action of an unspecified agent and hence used with no expressed subject (such as methinks) or with a merely formal subject (such as rained in it rained)

b of a pronoun : indefinite

Other Words from impersonal More Example Sentences Learn More About impersonal

Other Words from impersonal

impersonality \ (ˌ)im-ˌpər-sə-ˈna-lə-tē

\ noun

impersonally \ (ˌ)im-ˈpərs-nə-lē

, -ˈpər-sə-nə-lē \ adverb

Examples of impersonal in a Sentence

We discussed the weather and other impersonal topics. He maintained an impersonal, professional attitude. “Rained” in “it rained” is an impersonal verb.

Recent Examples on the Web For all the convenience of e-commerce, shopping on websites remains impersonal and generic, Loukakos says. — Jeff Koyen, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2022 Any bigger, Clark said, and groups start to feel impersonal. — Washington Post, 10 Dec. 2021 My first half dozen rejections were all short, impersonal form letters. — Seija Rankin, EW.com, 15 Dec. 2021 The biographer’s gift lay in fusing the personal and impersonal, his experience as an art student and jobbing critic, the stoic’s sense with an epicurean sensibility. — Maxwell Carter, WSJ, 3 Dec. 2021 Corboy says that going through attorneys rather than reaching out himself made the gesture feel disingenuous and impersonal. — Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 30 Nov. 2021 TikTok evoking the merciless imposition of clock time that severs us, again and again, from our subjective experience and propels us into the savage realm of impersonal quantification. — Will Self, Harper's Magazine, 23 Nov. 2021 Engaging with academia helps businesses identify gaps in an impersonal and deeply-studied setting. — Expert Panel®, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2021 But amid the trend of fast buying and impersonal goods, local artisans are stepping up to sell items designed with quality and longevity in mind. — Patrick Connolly, orlandosentinel.com, 26 Nov. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'impersonal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.