Dictionary Thesaurus Word Dynamo Quotes Reference Translator Spanish

faux pas

[foh pah]

Origin

noun, plural faux pas

[foh pahz; Fr. foh pah] .

a slip or blunder in etiquette, manners, or conduct; an embarrassing social blunder or indiscretion.

Origin:
1670–80; < French: literally, false step

Synonyms
error; impropriety.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source

Link To faux pas

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Faux pas is always a great word to know.

So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:

a fool or simpleton; ninny.

an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.

LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...

Collins

World English Dictionary

faux pas (ˌfəʊ ˈpɑː, French fo pɑ)

—n , pl faux pas
	a social blunder or indiscretion

[C17: from French: false step]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source

Etymonline

Word Origin & History

faux pas

1670s, from Fr., lit. "false step."

Word Dynamo By Dictionary.com

Searching for faux pas?
How many words do you actually know?

FIND OUT

Matching Quote

"A writer who writes, "I am alone" ... can be considered rather comical. It is comical for a man to recognize his solitude by addressing a reader and by using methods that prevent the individual from being alone. The word alone is just as general as the word bread. To pronounce it is to summon to oneself the presence of everything the word excludes."

-Maurice Blanchot

Partners:Word Bloglines Citysearch The Daily Beast Ask Answers Ask Kids Life123 Sendori Thesaurus

About Privacy Policy Terms of Use API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Help