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
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
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
Despite the first self-checkout machines coming into use in the 1980s, the approach has never totally caught on — as a British supermarket chain executive told the BBC last year, the machines can be slow, unreliable, and impersonal.
—Wes Davis, The Verge, 2 Apr. 2024
Offer Meaningful Personalization Remember that digital commerce shouldn’t mean an impersonal experience.
—Yoav Kutner, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
This seems to be a deliberate departure from the traditional somber funeral, which was sometimes impersonal or hypocritical.
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2024
Both approaches can help streamline the hiring process for those recruiting, as they are given suitable candidates based on referrals, rather than an impersonal list of previous jobs and education.
—Dina Mattar, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
By Hannah Giorgis Complaints about the current state of dating tend to revolve around the impersonal, gamelike behavior that apps such as Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble encourage.
—Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2024
Studies have also found that when filling a vacant unit, corporate landlords are more likely to use impersonal tenant screening systems, which are free of explicit (if not necessarily implicit) racial bias.
—Calmatters, Orange County Register, 7 Mar. 2024
The cold and impersonal layoffs, often made via email or one-way videos, have led to the erosion of employee happiness and job satisfaction.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024
The artwork that resulted feels to you generic and impersonal, lacking the singular imprint of your friend’s creative mind.
—Meghan O'Gieblyn, WIRED, 20 Feb. 2024
Wes Davis, The Verge, 2 Apr. 2024
Offer Meaningful Personalization Remember that digital commerce shouldn’t mean an impersonal experience.
—Yoav Kutner, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
This seems to be a deliberate departure from the traditional somber funeral, which was sometimes impersonal or hypocritical.
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2024
Both approaches can help streamline the hiring process for those recruiting, as they are given suitable candidates based on referrals, rather than an impersonal list of previous jobs and education.
—Dina Mattar, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
By Hannah Giorgis Complaints about the current state of dating tend to revolve around the impersonal, gamelike behavior that apps such as Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble encourage.
—Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2024
Studies have also found that when filling a vacant unit, corporate landlords are more likely to use impersonal tenant screening systems, which are free of explicit (if not necessarily implicit) racial bias.
—Calmatters, Orange County Register, 7 Mar. 2024
The cold and impersonal layoffs, often made via email or one-way videos, have led to the erosion of employee happiness and job satisfaction.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024
The artwork that resulted feels to you generic and impersonal, lacking the singular imprint of your friend’s creative mind.
—Meghan O'Gieblyn, WIRED, 20 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'impersonal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near impersonal
Cite this Entry
“Impersonal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impersonal. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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