impersonal

1 of 2

adjective

im·​per·​son·​al (ˌ)im-ˈpər-sə-nəl 

-ˈpərs-nəl

1

a

: lacking emotional warmth

a giant impersonal corporation

b(1)

: not relating to or influenced by personal feelings

an impersonal, professional attitude

(2)

: having no personal reference or connection

impersonal criticism

c

: not engaging the human personality or emotions

The machine as compared with the hand tool is an impersonal agency.

—John Dewey

d

: 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

impersonality

2 of 2

noun

im·​personality (¦)im 

əm+

1

: the lack or absence of a personal or human character

the impersonality of natural law

2

: the quality or state of not involving personal feelings or the emotions or of being unemotional and disinterested

marveled at the impersonality of the thinking of so passionate a man

the emotional detachment and impersonality required of a good playwright

—Leslie Rees

so much impersonality, so much coldness and emphasis on technique

—Manny Farber

3

a

: the quality or state of not involving, not being activated by, or not tracing to a personal agent

the impersonality of the popular ballad

the impersonality of the machine

b

: a quality or state marked by an absence or suppression of human expression or a minimizing of the significance of personality

the impersonality of society

the impersonality of the world money market

c

: the quality of not bearing on only a single or a particular person

the impersonality, the universality of his remarks

4

: something impersonal

forced to deal with impersonalities such as the state or the law

Examples of impersonal in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Adjective

Otherwise, he’s restricted to impersonal helpers — a detective (Liza Colón-Zayas) willing to take his phone calls, an AI assistant (ew) and a network of facial recognition cameras (double ew). — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026

The treatment menu reflects Ben’s belief that effective skincare should never feel impersonal. — Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 30 July 2026

No more dueling, impersonal press releases, emails and social media barrages. — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 27 July 2026

If your living room feels too polished, predictable or impersonal, a trip to the thrift store may be more useful than another scroll through a major retailer’s website. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

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

First Known Use

Adjective

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

Rhymes for impersonal

• nonpersonal
• transpersonal
• interpersonal
• intrapersonal
• personal

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