impersonal

adjective

im·​per·​son·​al (ˌ)im-ˈpər-sə-nəl 

-ˈpərs-nəl

1

a

: 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

2

a

: 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

impersonality

(ˌ)im-ˌpər-sə-ˈna-lə-tē 

noun

impersonally

(ˌ)im-ˈpər-sə-nə-lē 

-ˈpərs-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

But that doesn’t mean that the recessed living room is cold and impersonal. —Kate Reggev, Architectural Digest, 28 June 2024

For modern economic organizations to work well, a country needs to have developed a host of complementary institutions, such as fair courts, norms of impersonal exchange, and trust in organizations. —Timur Kuran, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2010

Sometimes their words were impersonal, and might even be kind. —Sigrid Nunez, The New Yorker, 1 Sep. 2024

Despite its seemingly impersonal scale, the pair told AD that it was intentionally designed for their four kids — North, 11, Saint, 8, Chicago, 6, and Psalm, 5. —Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 31 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin impersonalis, from Latin in- + Late Latin personalis personal

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Kids Definition

impersonal

adjective

im·​per·​son·​al (ˈ)im-ˈpərs-nəl 

-ᵊn-əl

1

: having no expressed subject or no subject other than "it"

"rained" in "it rained" is an impersonal verb

2

: not personal:

a

: not showing or involving personal feelings : detached

an impersonal professional attitude

b

: not caring about individual persons or their feelings

cold impersonal cities

a giant impersonal corporation

impersonality

(ˌ)im-ˌpərs-ᵊn-ˈal-ət-ē 

noun

impersonally

(ˈ)im-ˈpərs-nə-lē 

-ᵊn-ə-lē

adverb