From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishimproperim‧prop‧er /ɪmˈprɒpə $ -ˈprɑːpər/ adjective 1 BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONSdishonest, illegal, or morally wrongit is improper (for somebody) to do something He realised that it was improper for a police officer to accept gifts.improper behaviour/conduct/dealings etc allegations of improper banking practices improper sexual conduct2 DISHONESTnot sensible, right, or fair in a particular situation SYN inappropriateit is improper to do something It would be improper of me to comment before the election outcome is known.3 WRONG/INCORRECTwrong or not correct —improperly adverb If you are improperly dressed, you will not be admitted.
Examples from the Corpus
improper• The royal crest is used on the front of the annual report, which I should have thought was improper.• But there was no suggestion that Gray had been involved in anything improper and Jefferson continued to be involved in youth work.• But much more sorry that you have behaved in such an improper and perilous way.• She knows of no improper conduct by either of the Clintons in connection with the Whitewater development or anything else.• Many cases of stomach flu result from improper cooking of food.• It was a mistake, not an effort to seek improper financial gain.• But the Treasury issued a counter-statement saying that nothing improper had been asked of civil servants by ministers.• Displaying alcohol ads at the conference was improper, in my opinion.• The threat of legal proceedings is not improper pressure.• Another problem that often occurs is improper recording of measurements.• A tight-lipped college spokesman yesterday denied there was evidence of an improper relationship between the two.it is improper (for somebody) to do something• It would be improper for me to discuss the case at this point.it is improper to do something• According to Lord Diplock it is improper to do this if the meaning of the statute is plain. 