faux pas

[foh pah]

noun

plural

faux pas 

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

   Synonyms: impropriety, error

faux pas

/ fo pɑ, ˌfəʊ ˈpɑː /

noun

1. a social blunder or indiscretion

Word History and Origins

Origin of faux pas¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of faux pas¹

C17: from French: false step

Example Sentences

And then there is “faux pas,” which is an embarrassing blunder or lapse of good manners.

Read more on Literature

Mr. Kerrigan’s faux pas could have been worse: He could have told his daughter that she was “one in a million”—which, in this country, means there are 347 others just like her.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The perplexed look on her face instantly confirmed the faux pas.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Which is just as well, because earlier this month Sam made the ultimate relationship faux pas.

Read more on BBC

Along with photo-snappers, “Wicked” screenings came with another major theater etiquette faux pas: belting for the back row.

Read more on Salon