irreverence

C2+ Topic:Religion & Belief

US /ɪˈrɛvərəns/ UK /ɪˈrevərəns/ See IPA manual

noun

Meanings

1

noun
lack of due respect for sacred or serious things

The comedian's irreverence toward authority delighted the rowdy crowd.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · lack of due respect for... disrespect impiety flippancy profanity disdain sacrilege

Opposites

reverence respect piety

Word family

Related forms irreverent reverence revere

Etymology

From Latin irreverentia, from in- 'not' plus reverentia 'reverence', from revereri 'to stand in awe of', from re- plus vereri 'to fear, respect'.

irreverentia Latin vereri Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Religion & Belief Word Formation & Derivatives

# irreverence

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** ɪˈrɛvərəns
**IPA (UK):** ɪˈrevərəns

## Meanings
1. lack of due respect for sacred or serious things

## Examples
- The comedian's irreverence toward authority delighted the rowdy crowd.

## Synonyms
- disrespect
- impiety
- flippancy
- profanity
- disdain
- sacrilege

## Antonyms
- reverence
- respect
- piety

## Related Forms
- irreverent
- reverence
- revere

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: irreverentia
- Root: vereri

## Etymology
From Latin irreverentia, from in- 'not' plus reverentia 'reverence', from revereri 'to stand in awe of', from re- plus vereri 'to fear, respect'.

## AI Etymology
Irreverence comes from Latin irreverentia, from in- 'not' plus reverentia 'reverence', from revereri 'to stand in awe of', from re- plus vereri 'to fear, respect'. The etymological trail includes Latin irreverentia, Latin vereri. The same word family includes irreverent, reverence, revere. Its current noun use means "lack of due respect for sacred or serious things".

## Topics
- Religion & Belief
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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irreverence

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