peccadillo

[pek-uh-dil-oh]

noun

plural

peccadilloes, peccadillos 

1. a very minor or slight sin or offense; a trifling fault.

   Synonyms: indiscretion, faux pas, slip, lapse

peccadillo

/ ˌpɛkəˈdɪləʊ /

noun

1. a petty sin or trifling fault

Word History and Origins

Origin of peccadillo¹

1585–95; < Spanish pecadillo, diminutive of pecado sin < Latin peccātum transgression, noun use of neuter of past participle of peccāre to err, offend

Word History and Origins

Origin of peccadillo¹

C16: from Spanish pecadillo, from pecado sin, from Latin peccātum, from peccāre to transgress

Example Sentences

"Scotland has one peccadillo and that is Cardinal O'Brien," he says.

Read more on BBC

Carvey laid into the appearance of the pseudo-Gaetz, telling him it "looks like your forehead is trying to go to heaven without you" before criticizing his "little sexual peccadilloes."

Read more on Salon

He obviously wants the world to remember and think of him as strong and resolute, and basically a good guy despite his personal peccadilloes.

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“Those are personal peccadilloes that you may have,” Scorsese incorrectly guesses.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But it’s also a clever riff on the family sitcom, as the establishment’s proprietor is the patriarch of a decidedly oddball family; most surprisingly, it treats that family with genuine affection, peccadilloes and all.

Read more on New York Times

Related Words

• impropriety 
• indiscretion