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Impromptu most often describes things, such as speeches or gatherings, that are not prepared ahead of time but that instead happen spontaneously. An impromptu concert or photoshoot, for example, is conceived and executed in the moment. Impromptu was borrowed—spelling, meaning, and all—from French in the mid-18th century. The French had gotten the word from Latin, from the phrase in promptu, meaning “in readiness.” But the presence of prompt in there is no coincidence: both impromptu and prompt are ultimately derived from the Latin promere, meaning “to bring forth, take out.”
Examples of impromptu in a Sentence
Sarah Khan, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2026
The responses turned Deschanel’s negative review into something of an impromptu audition for bakeries eager to win her over.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
But that launched Country Joe McDonald, that impromptu performance of singing the cheer, which still cannot be said on radio and television.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2026
At the height of the sectarian war, parts of Baghdad were so riddled with impromptu militia checkpoints that many Iraqis started carrying two official-looking IDs — one genuine and the other a forgery with a last name and birthplace associated with the other sect.
—Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Impromptu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impromptu. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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