adj · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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CMU ARPABET:IH2 R EH1 V ER0 AH0 N T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Lacking respect; not having or not showing respect for or seriousness towards something that is usually treated with respect; going against conventional precepts.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
an irreverent new work
an irreverent examination of reviewing
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adjective
Meaning 2
showing lack of due respect or veneration
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
irreverent scholars mocking sacred things
noisy irreverent tourists
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: reverent
3
adjective satellite
Meaning 3
not revering god
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: godless
Antonyms: none provided
4
adjective satellite
Meaning 4
characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a certain irreverent gaiety and ease of manner
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: impertinent, pert, saucy
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Latin irreverēns. By surface analysis, ir- + reverent.
Across languages
Translations
30 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
непочтителен
(nepočtitelen)
— lacking respect or seriousness
Catalan:
irreverent
— lacking respect or seriousness
Chinese Mandarin:
不敬
(bùjìng)
— lacking respect or seriousness
Chinese Mandarin:
失禮 /失礼
(shīlǐ)
— lacking respect or seriousness
Chinese Mandarin:
無禮 /无礼
(wúlǐ)
— lacking respect or seriousness
Czech:
neuctivý
— lacking respect or seriousness
Dutch:
oneerbiedig
— lacking respect or seriousness
Finnish:
epäkunnioittava
— lacking respect or seriousness
French:
irrévérencieux
— lacking respect or seriousness
French:
irrespectueux
— lacking respect or seriousness
Galician:
irreverente
— lacking respect or seriousness
German:
ehrfurchtslos
— lacking respect or seriousness
German:
pietätlos
— lacking respect or seriousness
German:
respektlos
— lacking respect or seriousness
German:
unehrerbietig
— lacking respect or seriousness
Japanese:
不遜な
(fuson na)
— lacking respect or seriousness
Latin:
impius
— lacking respect or seriousness
Māori:
whakatīkai
— lacking respect or seriousness
Māori:
ngahangaha
— lacking respect or seriousness
Māori:
whakangahangaha
— lacking respect or seriousness
Norwegian Bokmål:
uærbødig
— lacking respect or seriousness
Norwegian Bokmål:
respektløs
— lacking respect or seriousness
Polish:
bez szacunku
— lacking respect or seriousness
Portuguese:
irreverente
— lacking respect or seriousness
Russian:
непочти́тельный
(nepočtítelʹnyj)
— lacking respect or seriousness
Russian:
неуважи́тельный
(neuvažítelʹnyj)
— lacking respect or seriousness
Spanish:
irreverente
— lacking respect or seriousness
Swedish:
vanvördig
— lacking respect or seriousness
Turkish:
hürmetsiz
— lacking respect or seriousness
Turkish:
saygısız
— lacking respect or seriousness
