impersonal

im·per·son·al | \ (ˌ)im-ˈpərs-nəl

, -ˈpər-sə-nəl \

Definition of impersonal

1a : 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

2a : 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

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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 Sontag was rigorously impersonal in her approach, stubbornly un-fragile, stoic in her persona on the page. — New York Times, "Cult of the Literary Sad Woman," 12 Nov. 2019 Others see trust in impersonal terms, embedded in the rules, norms, institutions and alliances that bind countries to each other. — Mieczysław P. Boduszyński, The Conversation, "Broken trust: How Iraqis lost their faith in Washington, long before the Kurds did," 21 Nov. 2019 These thinkers continued a search for the impersonal perspective on politics that Rawls had put at the heart of the field. — Jedediah Britton-purdy, The New Republic, "What John Rawls Missed," 29 Oct. 2019 Sometimes considered cold and impersonal, Bauhaus may not be to everyone’s taste. — National Geographic, "Why is Bauhaus such a big deal in design?," 15 Oct. 2019 Superhero productions feature three women striding silently into battle rather than none, and reliably include actors of color in roles of ahistorical and impersonal substance. — Richard Brody, The New Yorker, "The Twenty-Seven Best Movies of the Decade," 27 Nov. 2019 Quite a few, though, comment on the unpleasant and impersonal nature of the system. — Danielle Ofri, STAT, "The EMR has changed the doctor-patient duet into a ménage-à-trois," 31 Oct. 2019 His impersonal condominium is decorated in upscale products ordered from brand-name catalogs. — Patrick Z. Mcgavin, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Fight Club': THR's 1999 Review," 15 Oct. 2019 Epicureanism spread as the Greek city-state fell into decline, empires emerged and social authority grew distant and impersonal. — The Economist, "The key to a good life is avoiding pain," 26 Sep. 2019

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.

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Last Updated

11 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Impersonal.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impersonal. Accessed 22 January 2020.

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More Definitions for impersonal

impersonal

adjective