faux pas

noun

ˈfō-ˌpä 

fō-ˈpä

plural faux pas ˈfō-ˌpä(z) 

fō-ˈpä(z)

: a significant or embarrassing error or mistake : blunder

Long, hot soaks in winter are a classic faux pas, since exposure to extreme heat after having been in the cold can cause small visible blood vessels to appear at the skin's surface.

—Elle

especially : a socially awkward or improper act or remark

Audiences must be supportive and enthusiastic—lots of clapping, no heckling. (And talking on cellphones during the performance is a huge faux pas).

—Claudine Ise

… when I sauntered into the main dining room for my first breakfast, I realized I was the only person showing his legs. Careless faux pas, or was I being overly sensitive to the local culture?

—David Swanson

Campaigning last year seemed to convince her that she can venture out alone without making costly faux pas.

—Time Magazine

It was not until I'd covered about fifty kilometers that I committed my most terrible social faux pas yet: I overtook another cyclist.

—Polly Evans

Synonyms

• familiarity
• gaff
• gaffe
• impropriety
• indiscretion
• solecism

Examples of faux pas in a Sentence

Arriving too early would be a serious faux pas.

according to an oft-told story, the queen set a guest at ease about a faux pas by politely imitating it

Recent Examples on the Web

Kendall’s lack of confidence in the kitchen might stem from a viral kitchen faux pas from an earlier season of the Hulu series. —Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 27 June 2024

And rather than a faux pas, buying your wedding invitations online is a cost-effective way to check a major item off your to-do list. —Julie Tong, Vogue, 26 June 2024

Since grilling is a learned skill, mistakes are inevitable—but, with the right culinary know-how, those food faux pas are only temporary. —Kelsey Mulvey, Sunset Magazine, 20 June 2024

The actress, 57, documented the entirety of the hilarious faux pas on Instagram, from the moment her stylist, Lindsay Flores, tried to remove the top to her eventually being freed from the top, plus the dangerously close nip slips that happened in between. —Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 10 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, false step

First Known Use

1676, in the meaning defined above