air quotes
Americanplural noun
Etymology
Origin of air quotes
First recorded in 1985–90
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.
Gaffigan is serious enough about his pursuit to say “my whiskey journey” several times in conversation with a straight face and no air quotes.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 1, 2025
Dahlia and I always put this “doctrine” in air quotes.
From Slate • Jul. 8, 2025
“Like, how can I be an ‘expert’ — and I say that with heavy, heavy air quotes — and still be struggling in this way?”
From New York Times • Jan. 19, 2024
Then we’ll go to the Juice across the street and get their cashew date “ice cream” with air quotes around it.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 15, 2023
I made air quotes when I said the word “movie.”
From "From the Desk of Zoe Washington" by Janae Marks
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
