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

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

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

Second, because scents are so highly personal, gifting a candle without awareness of the recipient’s specific tastes can feel impersonal. —Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 12 Dec. 2024

In their effort to appeal to the broadest possible customer base, most demos are impersonal tutorials that sound canned, and therefore, detached from the audience. —Jerry Weissman, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

Mario Tama—Getty Images Autonomous delivery robots often value function over form, looking boxy and impersonal. —Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 5 Dec. 2024

In an era when digital platforms like Letterboxd and IMDb offer quick, impersonal tracking tools, this dad's analog-meets-digital hybrid has struck a chord with TikTok users. —Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024

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

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