Irreverent
/ɪˈrɛv.ər.ənt/noun
Lacking proper respect or seriousness.
Did you know?Irreverent comes from Latin reverentem, from revereri, meaning “to stand in awe of” or “to fear/respect,” so the word began as the absence of a deeply spiritual kind of deference.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
irreverentem
“not showing reverence or awe”
Classical Latin
Latin
reverentem
“showing respect, awe, or fear”
Latin
Latin
revereri
“to stand in awe of; to fear and respect”
14th Century
English
irreverent
“lacking due respect, especially toward sacred things”
Modern English
English
irreverent
“lacking proper respect or seriousness”