Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

gaffe

American  
[gaf] / gæf /

noun

  1. a social blunder; faux pas.

gaffe British  
/ ɡæf /

noun

  1. a social blunder, esp a tactless remark

"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 gaffe

1905–10; < French: blunder, probably special use of gaffe gaff 1

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.

Local financial-market regulators say the gaffe has exposed fundamental weakness in the country’s digital-asset industry.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 10, 2026

The “Cold Mountain” gaffe was a rare instance of a “Good Hang” research flub, one that inadvertently managed to illuminate more of Paltrow’s self-perception.

From Salon • Jan. 16, 2026

But the bizarre gaffe by the Dane sparked outrage from Tottenham fans on social media, leaving Frank with more awkward questions to answer following the latest wretched result of his troubled reign.

From Barron's • Jan. 7, 2026

Gadsden’s goal-line gaffe was one of several mistakes that played a role in ending the Chargers’ four-game winning streak last week.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 3, 2026

My gaffe was even worse in Karhidish, but Estraven did not smile, or wince.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

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.