Skip to content

insolent

insolent, impudent

adjective aN-soh-LAHN Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Personality

Origin: from Latin insolens, 'unusual, arrogant'

Usage Note

insolent describes someone who is rudely disrespectful toward an authority figure — most commonly a student toward a teacher. The noun is l'insolence (f). The feminine form is insolente. An insolent remark might be called une insolence or une impertinence.

Examples

"Cet élève est vraiment insolent."

Natural Translation

This student is really insolent.

Explore French by topic