Flippant

 WORD OF THE DAY

flippant / adjective / FLIP-unt

Definition

1: lacking proper respect or seriousness

2 (archaic): glib, talkative

Examples

As far as he was concerned, we were an unforgivably flippant bunch. Louche. Our shared political stance … struck him as pathetically naive.

— Mordecai Richler, GQ, November 1997

“… although she is neither solemn nor pontifical, she may be the least flippant advice columnist in the business.”

— Ray Olson, Booklist, 1 May 1991

Did You Know?

Flippant did something of a flip-flop shortly after it appeared in English in the late 16th century. 

The word was probably created from the verb flip, which in turn may have originated as an imitation of the sound of something flipping. 

The earliest senses of the adjective were "nimble" and "limber." 

One could be flippant not only on one's feet, but also in speech—that is, someone flippant might have a capacity for easy, flowing speech. 

Such flippancy was considered a good thing at first. But people who speak freely and easily can sometimes seem too talkative, and even impertinent. 

By the end of the 18th century, the positive sense of flippant had slipped from use, and the "disrespectful" sense had taken its place.