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Impromptu most often describes things, such as speeches or gatherings, that are not prepared ahead of time but that instead happen spontaneously. An impromptu concert or photoshoot, for example, is conceived and executed in the moment. Impromptu was borrowed—spelling, meaning, and all—from French in the mid-18th century. The French had gotten the word from Latin, from the phrase in promptu, meaning “in readiness.” But the presence of prompt in there is no coincidence: both impromptu and prompt are ultimately derived from the Latin promere, meaning “to bring forth, take out.”
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Examples of impromptu in a Sentence
India Espy-Jones, Essence, 8 Apr. 2024
Greene also interrupted President Joe Biden during his State of the Union speech, leading him to deliver impromptu remarks in response about Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, whose murder has become a flashpoint in immigration debates this election year.
—Mallory Moench, TIME, 7 Apr. 2024
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'impromptu.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Impromptu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impromptu. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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impromptu
adjective
More from Merriam-Webster on impromptu
Nglish: Translation of impromptu for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of impromptu for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about impromptu
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