WordGarden.ioimpersonally
C1Pronunciation
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Meanings
Adverb
in a way that lacks personal warmth or individual attention
without being influenced by personal feelings or involvement
using an impersonal grammatical construction
Beyond the definition
Imagine a hotel clerk checking you in. They are polite and efficient, but they do not show any personal warmth or opinion. That interaction is handled impersonally. It means something is done without personal emotion, preference, or close human connection. It can also mean something is said in a general way, not aimed at one specific person.
Sometimes, impersonally describes how information is presented. A scientific report gives facts impersonally, without personal language or emotion. A robot might respond impersonally to your questions, simply processing data without feeling. The word often suggests distance, fairness, or a lack of personal touch. You might say a difficult decision was made impersonally by a committee so that no one person was favored.
The word impersonally describes actions, speech, or writing that do not show personal feelings, opinions, or special attention to one particular person. It suggests a detached or formal approach, where things are done according to rules, procedures, or general principles rather than individual preference.
Think about how a large company might handle customer complaints. It may use scripts and standard procedures to deal with problems impersonally, so each case is treated in the same way, even if the process feels a little cold. Or consider a judge making a decision. Ideally, it should be done impersonally, based on the law and the evidence, not on personal feelings about the defendant.
The key idea is that something done impersonally lacks warmth, personal closeness, or emotional connection. The word is often used when people want to stress fairness, objectivity, or efficiency. You might say a scientist presented results impersonally, carefully avoiding language that shows personal belief or emotion.
However, impersonally does not always mean rudely. A person can be polite, calm, and professional while still acting impersonally. A doctor, for example, may speak impersonally when focusing strictly on symptoms and diagnosis. The word can also be used when something is said in a general way rather than directed at one individual. If something is handled with distance, fairness, or very little personal touch, it is being handled impersonally.
Examples
- 1
Customer service
The receptionist answered my questions politely but impersonally.
- 2
Hospitality
The hotel staff treated every guest efficiently and impersonally.
- 3
Email style
The email was written impersonally, with no greeting or signature.
- 4
Neutral discussion
During the meeting, she spoke impersonally about the mistake and avoided blaming anyone.
See also
Similar
- objectively
- detachedly
- dispassionately
Shades of meaning
- clinically
- bureaucratically
- in the abstract
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- speak impersonally
- treat someone impersonally
- write impersonally
Word family
Explore
- objectivity
- emotional distance
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- impersonallyadverb