Flippant
/ˈflɪpənt/
Definitions
Lacking proper respect or seriousness.
/ˈflɪpənt/
Disrespectful and not taking things seriously.
The student's flippant response to the teacher's question earned him a detention.
💡 Simply: Imagine your friend makes a joke when your grandma tells a sad story. That's flippant—not taking a serious situation seriously. It’s like they are poking fun at something they shouldn't be.
👶 For kids: When you say something silly or make a joke when someone is trying to be serious, you're being flippant!
More Examples
She was criticized for her flippant remarks about the tragedy.
His flippant attitude toward the project made his colleagues lose confidence in him.
How It's Used
"His flippant remarks during the serious discussion annoyed the other attendees."
"The character's flippant attitude masked a deep-seated insecurity."
From Middle English *flip*, imitative of a light, quick movement + -ant (suffix indicating an action or state). Possibly influenced by Middle Dutch *flippen* ('to smirk').
Historically, the word has been used since the 17th century with a similar meaning to modern usage.
Memory tip
Think of someone *flipping* off the importance of a situation.