faux pas

[foh pah] / foʊ ˈpɑ /

NOUN

social error

Synonyms

WEAK

blooper blunder blunder in etiquette boo-boo botch breach break bungle colossal blunder error flop flub foul-up gaffe gaucherie goof hash impropriety indecorum indiscretion mess mess-up misconduct misjudgment misstep mistake offense oversight slip social blunder solecism transgression

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But sometimes that meant his aides had the job of risk management, having to explain statements that appeared to be a departure from what the Pope had previously said or a diplomatic faux pas.

From BBC

For centuries, appearing in public without the proper headgear was a faux pas.

From The Wall Street Journal

And then there is “faux pas,” which is an embarrassing blunder or lapse of good manners.

From Literature

Mr. Kerrigan’s faux pas could have been worse: He could have told his daughter that she was “one in a million”—which, in this country, means there are 347 others just like her.

From The Wall Street Journal

The perplexed look on her face instantly confirmed the faux pas.

From The Wall Street Journal

faux pas

Example Sentences

Related Words