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Synonyms

faux pas

American  
[foh pah] / foʊ ˈpɑ /

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 British  
/ fo pɑ, ˌfəʊ ˈpɑː /

noun

  1. a social blunder or indiscretion

"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

Etymology

Origin of faux pas

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

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.

When a nameless secretary drops a sheaf of papers, Kornev’s response to help is instinctive, yet we cringe at the careless faux pas he commits in this unfeeling society.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

The first reason is the data collection faux pas of 2020.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

Franks says she will never regret her time at Cambridge, despite the sneers and the cheeseboard faux pas.

From BBC • Feb. 21, 2026

For centuries, appearing in public without the proper headgear was a faux pas.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025

The Reverend Spooner made an embarrassing faux pas.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

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.