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
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
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 such a term can often erase the nuances of an individual’s inner life, swapping them out for something incomplete and impersonal.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2025
Borges tells us that in Tlön’s Ursprache there are no nouns; instead, there are impersonal verbs, modified by monosyllabic prefixes with an adverbial value.
—Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
This gap manifests in various ways, from impersonal notification methods to inadequate communication about the reasoning behind cuts.
—Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
That makes drone warfare seem abstract and impersonal, but the opposite is true.
—Ken Harbaugh, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impersonal
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Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2025
Borges tells us that in Tlön’s Ursprache there are no nouns; instead, there are impersonal verbs, modified by monosyllabic prefixes with an adverbial value.
—Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
This gap manifests in various ways, from impersonal notification methods to inadequate communication about the reasoning behind cuts.
—Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
That makes drone warfare seem abstract and impersonal, but the opposite is true.
—Ken Harbaugh, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impersonal
Cite this Entry
“Impersonal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impersonal. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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