scare quotes

plural noun

1. a pair of quotation marks used around a term or phrase to indicate that the writer does not think it is being used appropriately or that the writer is using it in a specialized sense: Compare air quotes.

   a “huge breakthrough” in the negotiations.

scare quotes

plural noun

1. quotation marks placed around a word or phrase to indicate that it should not be taken literally or automatically accepted as true

Word History and Origins

Origin of scare quotes¹

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

“Cultures” Versus “White Girls” As you can probably sense from my scare quotes, you can never be too careful these days.

From The Daily Beast

Keep the scare quotes around gay “marriage,” or at least put an asterisk after it.

From The Daily Beast

The first author responded by calling the second “a journalist” (in scare quotes).

From The Daily Beast