Impersonal

Origin

From French impersonnel, from Latin impersonalis, from Latin im- ("not") + personalis ("personal").

Full definition of impersonal

Adjective

1. Not personal; not representing a person; not having personality.An almighty but impersonal power, called Fate. –Sir J. Stephen.
2. Lacking warmth or emotion; cold.She sounded impersonal as she gave her report of the Nazi death camps.
3. (grammar, of a verb or other word) Not having a subject, or having a third person pronoun without an antecedent.The verb “rain” is impersonal in sentences like “It’s raining.”

Related terms

• personal

Derived terms

• impersonal verb

Anagrams

• mailperson, prolamines