proper

Pronunciation

• (Australia) IPA: /ˈprɔp.ə/, SAMPA: /"prOp.@/
• (UK) IPA: /ˈprɒp.ə/, SAMPA: /"prQp.@/
• (US) enPR: präpʹər, IPA: /ˈprɑp.ɚ/, SAMPA: /"prAp.@`/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

Adjective

Positive proper

Comparative more proper

Superlative most proper

1. (usually before the noun) The proper way, place, use, etc. is the right one.

   What is the proper way to write a letter?

2. If something is proper, it is polite or acceptable.

   It's not proper for you to live alone like this.

   She was a very proper young lady.

   Why don't you get a proper job at a good company?

3. (only after the noun) The $x$ proper is the main or important part of $x$, not the parts near it.

   We stayed in a village and only went into the city proper during the day.

Synonyms

• suitable
• appropriate
• acceptable
• polite
• normal
• correct
• right

Antonyms

• improper
• decent
• real

Related words

• properly
• improper
• improperly