noun

impertinence

im-PER-tuh-nuns/ɪmˈpɜːrtnəns/

Disrespectfully bold behavior or remarks.

His impertinence includes dirty shoes on her desk and a rudely protruding tongue.

A young adult brazenly rests his dirty shoe soles on another person's desk and sticks out his tongue at her while she firmly gestures for him to remove his feet.

Etymology

imLatinnot

+pertinLatinbelong, relate to

+enceFrenchstate or quality

“Not belonging” or “not to the point” developed into “inappropriate to the situation.” Meddling beyond one's proper sphere connects that idea with the rude boldness named by impertinence.

In context

Enhanced Public Domain312:40

I was afraid of trampling on every traveler I met and often called aloud to have them stand out of the way so that I had like to have gotten one or two broken heads for my impertinence

1700s Satire: Jonathan Swift - Gulliver's Travels (Audiobook)

More examples

She has the impertinence to demand an apology after insulting everyone.
Please excuse my impertinence, but how much did that cost?
His repeated impertinences finally exhaust his host's patience.

Forms

impertinence · impertinences

impertinent adjective — Boldly rude or disrespectful toward others.

impertinently adverb — In a boldly rude or disrespectful way.

Similar words

insolence: Suggests more openly insulting disrespect, often toward someone in authority.
impudence: Emphasizes shameless boldness and disregard for what is socially acceptable.