impersonal
/ɪmˈpɜrsənəl/
noun
- A grammatical construction (especially in some languages) that does not refer to a specific person, such as 'it rains' or 'one must.'
- Some languages use impersonals more often than English does.
- In English, 'it is raining' is an impersonal because 'it' doesn't refer to anything.
- The impersonal 'one' is used in formal writing to mean 'people in general.'
adjective
- Not showing or involving personal feelings; cold and detached in manner.
- His email was brief and impersonal, with no greeting or closing.
- The customer service felt impersonal, as if the agent was reading from a script.
- The teacher's impersonal tone made the students feel like they were just numbers.
- Not influenced by or involving personal relationships; objective and neutral.
- The judge must remain impersonal and base decisions only on the law.
- The hiring process was designed to be impersonal, using only test scores and resumes.
- A scientific experiment should be impersonal, free from the researcher's bias.
- Lacking human warmth or character; generic and unfeeling.
- The waiting room felt impersonal, with its gray walls and plastic chairs.
- The hotel room was clean but impersonal, with no decorations or personality.
- Large corporations often create an impersonal work environment.