Langimage
English

flippancy

|flip-pan-cy|

C1

/ˈflɪpənsi/

lack of seriousness

Etymology
Etymology Information

'flippancy' originates from the English word 'flippant', which is derived from the verb 'flip', meaning 'to toss or throw lightly'.

Historical Evolution

'flippant' evolved from the verb 'flip' in the 16th century, eventually leading to the noun form 'flippancy' in the 18th century.

Meaning Changes

Initially, 'flippant' meant 'nimble or quick', but over time it evolved to mean 'lacking seriousness', which is reflected in 'flippancy'.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

a lack of respect or seriousness; frivolousness.

His flippancy during the meeting was not appreciated by his colleagues.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45