improprio

improper, inappropriate

adjective eem-PROH-pryoh Rare

Origin: Latin improprius (not one's own, unsuitable).

Also means

incorrect, wrong

Usage Note

Improprio describes something that is out of place, misused, or technically incorrect. Uso improprio is a misuse (of funds, a word, a tool). It is a false friend for English 'improper': Italian improprio is more neutral and technical, while 'improper' in English can also mean indecent — for that sense Italian prefers indecente or sconveniente.

Examples

"È un uso improprio del termine."

Natural Translation

It is an improper use of the term.

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