Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

improperly

/ɪmˈpɹɑ.pɚ.li/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.35 in modern English

Syllables: im-prop-er-ly
IPA: /ɪmˈpɹɑ.pɚ.li/

19

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

4

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

adv

In an improper manner; not properly.

Example Sentences

"Prosecutors also said Wednesday their side “does not intend to reference allegations that the defendant violated FARA or improperly coordinated with the Obama Administration,” referring to the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which requires people who lobby on behalf of foreign clients to register beforehand with the US government."

Etymology

From Middle English improprelich, impropreliche, impropurly, inproperlye; equivalent to improper + -ly or im- + properly.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: improprelich

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ɪmˈpɹɑ.pɚ.li/

Inflected Forms

more improperly (comparative) most improperly (superlative)

Synonyms

immorally indecently wrongly illicitly immodestly improperly incontinently reprehensibly unchastely unseemly unvirtuously wickedly

Rhymes With

properly

Questions

How do you pronounce improperly?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɪmˈpɹɑ.pɚ.li/.
What does improperly mean?: In an improper manner; not properly.
Where does improperly come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce improperly

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “improperly”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɪmˈpɹɑ.pɚ.li/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “improperly”.
Repeat and practice — Say “improperly” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.