faux pas

[ foh pah ]

/ foʊ ˈpɑ /

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noun, plural faux pas

[foh pahz; French foh pah]. /foʊ ˈpɑz; French foʊ ˈpɑ/.

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

OTHER WORDS FOR faux pas

error; impropriety.

See synonyms for faux pas on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of faux pas

First recorded in 1670–80; from French: literally, “false step”

Words nearby faux pas

fauteuil, Fauve, faux, fauxbourdon, faux-naïf, faux pas, fava bean, fave, favela, favelado, favella

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use faux pas in a sentence

Courtiers could relax, knowing they would not inadvertently commit a faux pas and nor would anyone else, and the rulers could relax, knowing that none of their courtiers were spreading misinformation or plotting against them.
Ancient robots were objects of fantasy and fun|E. R. Truitt/MIT Press Reader|November 30, 2021|Popular-Science
She eventually makes it to the estate, very, very late—she has arrived after the queen, an enormous faux pas, and it’s clear the whole family has their knives out for her, anyway.
Kristen Stewart and Pablo Larraín Do Princess Diana Wrong in Spencer|Stephanie Zacharek|September 3, 2021|Time
I would like to know how best to let them know that afterward, that I recognized my faux pas of overstaying my welcome and that I am truly sorry.
Miss Manners: Presents from ex can be refused|Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin, Jacobina Martin|December 17, 2020|Washington Post
But publicly throwing shade at Louis Vuitton wasn't Kanye's first fashion faux pas.
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian’s Balmain Campaign: High Fashion Meets Low Culture|Amy Zimmerman|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

From righteous fury to faux indignation, everything we got mad about in 2014—and how outrage has taken over our lives.
The Daily Beast’s Best Longreads, Dec 15-21, 2014|William Boot|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He continues to search for a loan to renovate his beloved Hotel Pourquoi Pas?
‘Argo’ in the Congo: The Ghosts of the Stanleyville Hostage Crisis|Nina Strochlic|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One winter night, Posho Wembore sneaked into the exclusive whites-only club of the Hotel Pourquoi Pas?
‘Argo’ in the Congo: The Ghosts of the Stanleyville Hostage Crisis|Nina Strochlic|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That being said, the task of faux-fellating my partner naturally fell to me.
I Tried Cosmo’s New Lesbian Sex Tips|Samantha Allen|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Mais ce n'est pas de merveille; car, comme j'ay dict, ils sont enfans.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Ils avoyent lors un conducteur fort honneste homme, et se comportoit fort bien avec les naturels du pas.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Il me dirent qu'il estoit malade ds quatre mois, et que comme il apparoissoit, il ne la feroit pas longue.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
La chasse aussi ne se trouve pas foison en vn lieu o il faut viure de cela, & o l'on fait vne demeure arreste.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Mais c'est là une mesure d'un intérêt défensif, qui ne fera pas faire un pas en avant.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton

British Dictionary definitions for faux pas

faux pas

/ (ˌfəʊ ˈpɑː, French fo pɑ) /

noun plural faux pas (ˌfəʊ ˈpɑːz, French fo pɑ)

a social blunder or indiscretion

Word Origin for faux pas

C17: from French: false step

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

faux pas

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British Dictionary definitions for faux pas

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