Faux Pas
idiom / noun /ˌfoʊ ˈpɑː/ — An embarrassing social blunder or breach of etiquette
Definition
A socially embarrassing mistake — a breach of accepted etiquette or manners that causes awkwardness. The faux pas is rarely catastrophic but always remembered — at least by the person who made it.
Beyond the definition
Faux pas is the word for social shame in its mildest and most universal form — everyone has made one, usually in rooms they wanted to impress. The French word makes the embarrassment sound almost elegant.
Origin & history
French: 'false step' — literally a misstep. The metaphor is of stepping wrong in a dance or society, going against the rhythm of the room.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Asking when the baby was due — when she wasn't pregnant — was the faux pas of the decade.
The diplomat's faux pas at the dinner became a minor international incident.
There are faux pas you forgive and faux pas you quietly remember forever.
How to use it
Follow this entry’s examples for grammatical form and sentence placement.
Choose “Faux Pas” when the meaning fits your context: A socially embarrassing mistake — a breach of accepted etiquette or manners that causes awkwardness. The faux pas is rarely catastrophic but always remembered — at least by the person who made it.
Synonyms
social blunder, gaffe, misstep, breach of etiquette
Antonyms
social grace, diplomatic success
Related words
Faux Pas vs blunder
A blunder is a clumsy error. A 'faux pas' is specifically a breach of etiquette that causes social awkwardness within a group setting.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Social Disconnection and Awkwardness
An adult stands in a busy office, appearing visibly confused and disconnected from the surrounding colleagues' rhythm.
A faux pas is a breach of etiquette that causes social awkwardness. The individual feeling like an anomaly reflects the internal discomfort and isolation resulting from inadvertently violating group norms.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Faux Pas" mean?
Faux Pas is idiom / noun meaning: An embarrassing social blunder or breach of etiquette. A socially embarrassing mistake — a breach of accepted etiquette or manners that causes awkwardness. The faux pas is rarely catastrophic but always remembered — at least by the person who made it.
Where does the word "Faux Pas" come from?
French: 'false step' — literally a misstep. The metaphor is of stepping wrong in a dance or society, going against the rhythm of the room.