1. impudent or saucy persons, especially children who are boldly disrespectful
Usage: archaic; plural form

Examples

• The governess struggled to control the young malaperts in her charge.
• Those malaperts dared to speak back to their elders.
• The teacher had no patience for malaperts who disrupted the lesson.
• In Victorian times, children who acted as malaperts faced swift punishment.
• The stern headmaster was known for reforming even the worst malaperts.