impersonal

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

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

Its few lasting effects are impersonal and clichéd. —Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2026

Where there was once an insistence on an impersonal space, there is now an acknowledgment that the therapist does not have to cloak their identity in a benign anonymity. —Wendy C. Ortiz, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026

Use Simple Rituals to Keep Their Memories Alive Legacy doesn’t always have to look like big, elaborate events—for younger kids, a memorial service, for instance, might even feel overwhelming and impersonal. —Halona Black, Parents, 10 Apr. 2026

All of those constructs serve the purpose of imagining the Democrats not as a rival coalition with opposing policies but as a unified, impersonal force that is always on the precipice of totalitarian control. —Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026

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

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