facetious

[ fuh-see-shuhs ]
See synonyms for: facetiousfacetiouslyfacetiousness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. not meant to be taken seriously or literally: a facetious remark.

  2. amusing; humorous.

  1. lacking serious intent; concerned with something nonessential, amusing, or frivolous: a facetious person.

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Origin of facetious

1
First recorded in 1585–95; from Middle French facecieux, facetieux, from facetie “a jest,” from Latin facētia “a jest, witticism” (see facetiae) + -ious

synonym study For facetious

2. See humorous1.

usage note For facetious

A term labeled Facetious in this dictionary is one that is used consciously for humorous or playful effect.

Other words from facetious

  • fa·ce·tious·ly, adverb
  • fa·ce·tious·ness, noun
  • non·fa·ce·tious, adjective
  • non·fa·ce·tious·ly, adverb
  • non·fa·ce·tious·ness, noun
  • un·fa·ce·tious, adjective
  • un·fa·ce·tious·ly, adverb
  • un·fa·ce·tious·ness, noun

Words that may be confused with facetious

Words Nearby facetious

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use facetious in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for facetious

facetious

/ (fəˈsiːʃəs) /


adjective
  1. characterized by levity of attitude and love of joking: a facetious person

  2. jocular or amusing, esp at inappropriate times: facetious remarks

Origin of facetious

1
C16: from Old French facetieux, from facetie witty saying; see facetiae

Derived forms of facetious

  • facetiously, adverb
  • facetiousness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012