Meanings
nounirreverence (usually uncountable, plural irreverences)
plural irreverences
- uncountableusuallyThe state or quality of being irreverent; want of proper reverence; disregard of the authority and character of a superior.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latinirreverentia
- Middle Englishirreverence
- Englishirreverence
From Middle English irreverence, from Latin irreverentia, from irreverēns (“irreverent”) + -ia (suffix forming abstract nouns). By surface analysis, ir- + reverence.
More words from Middle English, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian непочтителност
- непочтителност (nepočtitelnost)The state or quality of being irreverent.
Catalan irreverència
- irreverènciaThe state or quality of being irreverent.
Esperanto malriverenco
- malriverencoThe state or quality of being irreverent.
French irrévérence
- irrévérenceThe state or quality of being irreverent.
Greek αγένεια
- αγένεια (agéneia)The state or quality of being irreverent.
Italian irriverenza
- irriverenzaThe state or quality of being irreverent.
Portuguese irreverência
- irreverênciaThe state or quality of being irreverent.
Spanish irreverencia
- irreverenciaThe state or quality of being irreverent.
Cite this entry
APA
irreverence. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/irreverence
MLA
“irreverence.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/irreverence. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “irreverence,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/irreverence.
Source: irreverence on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.