: by way of interjection or further comment : with regard to the present topic
Did you know?
Apropos wears its ancestry like a badge—or a beret. From the French phrase à propos, meaning “to the purpose,” the word’s emphasis lands on its last syllable, which ends in a silent “s”: \ap-ruh-POH. Apropos typically functions as an adjective describing what is suitable or appropriate (“an apropos comment”), or as a preposition (with or without of) meaning “with regard to,” as in “apropos (of) the decision, implementation will take some time.” The phrase “apropos of nothing” suggests that something does not relate to a specified topic.
applicable suggests the fitness of bringing a general rule or principle to bear upon a particular case.
the rule is not applicable in this case
apropos suggests being both relevant and opportune.
the quip was apropos
Example Sentences
AdjectiveThis short yet spacious and powerful book … reminds us of the careful and apropos writing of J.M. Coetzee, W.G. Sebald and Uwe Timm. Thomas McGuane, New York Times Book Review, 24 June 2007The late Kenneth Koch's description of Ashbery as "lazy and quick" remains thoroughly apropos; these 61 page-or-two poems can seem brilliantly tossed off, much like those in his 2000 collection, Your Name Here. The title is appropriate too: Chinese Whispers is the British name for the game of Telephone, where children (or adults) gather in a circle and whisper a "secret" word or phrase into the ear next to them.Publishers Weekly, 19 Aug. 2002 The ceremony concluded with the reading of an apropos poem. The comment, though unexpected, was apropos. Adverb I went up to New York last weekend; apropos, have you seen your New York cousins lately?
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Prince William complemented her look nicely in a green velvet suit, which felt very apropos. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 17 Oct. 2021 The building's walls of windows gaze out on the pine groves, and the dining room is oriented around a central open fireplace, making the forest-meets-hearth influence feel particularly apropos. Lila Battis, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2021 Mike Zimmer's cabin motif with game mounted on the walls was apropos. Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 28 Apr. 2020 As much as the draft not being held in Las Vegas is missing out on a spectacle, the virtual version might be far more apropos for Herbert, who will celebrate from home with his family.oregonlive, 23 Apr. 2020 If ever there was an apropos song for the most unfortunate of endings to a season that held so much promise.oregonlive, 13 Mar. 2020 John gets all the credit for the apropos CROSS THE BORDER and I NEED SOME SPACE bonuses.New York Times, 26 Feb. 2020 But, considering the way things unfolded for the Blazers on Thursday, his humor was also apropos.oregonlive, 7 Feb. 2020 The group called itself Women to the Front (WTTF, an apropos acronym). Natalie Gontcharova, refinery29.com, 30 Jan. 2020 See More