Nonpolite

Nonpolite is an adjective used to describe behavior, speech, or attitudes that do not conform to the norms of politeness. It signals a lack of courtesy, tact, or consideration for others’ face in a given social context. The term is formed from the prefix non- plus polite, and it is relatively rare in everyday English, with impolite or rude as more common alternatives. It is more likely to appear in descriptive or scholarly writing than in casual speech.

In linguistics and discourse studies, nonpolite can describe utterances that violate expected politeness strategies. Such expressions may be blunt, direct, or lacking hedges, and can be interpreted as disrespectful depending on context and culture. The label does not necessarily imply malicious intent; it can reflect norm violations or stylistic choices in a particular setting.

Cultural variation matters: what counts as nonpolite in one culture or situation may be acceptable or even appreciated in another. The concept is often contrasted with positive politeness and negative politeness within politeness theory (Brown and Levinson), and with the broader idea of impoliteness, which focuses on intentional affronts.

Related terms include impolite, rude, uncivil, and blunt. Because politeness is context-sensitive, care is needed when labeling remarks as nonpolite. In modern usage, speakers typically prefer explicit terms like impolite or rude rather than nonpolite, which remains mainly a formal or academic descriptor.