gaffe
noun
ˈgaf 
1
: a social or diplomatic blunder
committed an embarrassing gaffe when he mispronounced her name
2
: a noticeable mistake
Kwan did not fall today, as she had in Friday's short program, a gaffe that left her in fourth place.
Christopher Clarey
Christopher Clarey
Synonyms
- familiarity
- faux pas
- gaff
- impropriety
- indiscretion
- solecism
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He realized that he had committed an awful gaffe when he mispronounced her name. committed a huge gaffe when she started drinking from the finger bowl
Recent Examples on the Web Fox News contributor Lara Trump slammed Vice President Kamala Harris for her latest gaffe from a Workforce Summit speech, arguing that the string of gaffes is no longer funny. Fox News Staff, Fox News, 14 July 2022 Schwam recalls his second gaffe with the powerful impresario. Steven Gaydos, Variety, 24 June 2022 The inexplicable gaffe made Travolta the subject of much mockery and ridicule in the media. Paul Grein, Billboard, 11 Mar. 2022 The gaffe drew the ire not of head coach Shawn Nadelen, but volunteer assistant coach Andy Shilling, Luke Shilling’s father. Edward Lee, baltimoresun.com, 5 Mar. 2022 Dwelling on the gaffe was short-lived as Kim doubled home extra-innings runner Jake Cronenworth to snag the lead in the 11th. Bryce Millercolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 May 2022 Short of the possible Twitter gaffe, Marvel has made no official indication that Moon Knight is returning for season 2. Josh St. Clair, Men's Health, 4 May 2022 Biden critics called it a gaffe, but the statement wasn’t a slip of the tongue. Doyle Mcmanuswashington Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2022 Biden would hardly be the first U.S. official to make a gaffe on Taiwan policy. Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 24 May 2022 See More
Fox News Staff, Fox News, 14 July 2022 Schwam recalls his second gaffe with the powerful impresario. Steven Gaydos, Variety, 24 June 2022 The inexplicable gaffe made Travolta the subject of much mockery and ridicule in the media. Paul Grein, Billboard, 11 Mar. 2022 The gaffe drew the ire not of head coach Shawn Nadelen, but volunteer assistant coach Andy Shilling, Luke Shilling’s father. Edward Lee, baltimoresun.com, 5 Mar. 2022 Dwelling on the gaffe was short-lived as Kim doubled home extra-innings runner Jake Cronenworth to snag the lead in the 11th. Bryce Millercolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 May 2022 Short of the possible Twitter gaffe, Marvel has made no official indication that Moon Knight is returning for season 2. Josh St. Clair, Men's Health, 4 May 2022 Biden critics called it a gaffe, but the statement wasn’t a slip of the tongue. Doyle Mcmanuswashington Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2022 Biden would hardly be the first U.S. official to make a gaffe on Taiwan policy. Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 24 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from French, probably a sense development of gaffe gaff entry 1
First Known Use
1909, in the meaning defined at sense 1
gaffes
noun
1
as in blunders
a socially improper or unsuitable act or remark committed a huge gaffe when she started drinking from the finger bowl Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- blunders
- mistakes
- errors
- gaffs
- indiscretions
- improprieties
- solecisms
- offences
- flubs
- miscues
- faux pas
- familiarities
- missteps
- goofs
- fumbles
- slipups
- offenses
- discourtesies
- lapses
- oversights
- incivilities
- misstatements
- stumbles
- misjudgments
- miscalculations
- howlers
- foul-ups
- misunderstandings
- misconceptions
- slips
- boners
- misapprehensions
- muffs
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- gestures
- courtesies
- amenities
- attentions
- formalities
- pleasantries
- manners
- civilities
- forms
- mores
- proprieties
2
as in mistakes
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy so-called debates, which seemed to be mainly about seeing which candidate made the most gaffes Synonyms & Similar Words
- blunders
- mistakes
- errors
- flubs
- miscues
- fumbles
- inaccuracies
- gaffs
- missteps
- goofs
- trips
- screwups
- stumbles
- clangers
- slipups
- bobbles
- faults
- lapses
- oversights
- bricks
- boo-boos
- bloopers
- pratfalls
- boobs
- fluffs
- clinkers
- snafus
- slips
- misstatements
- howlers
- misjudgments
- miscalculations
- misunderstandings
- misinterpretations
- foul-ups
- misreadings
- misconceptions
- misconstructions
- boners
- misimpressions
- bloomers
- misdescriptions
- misapprehensions
- miscomprehensions
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- accuracies
- perfections
- precisions
- exactitudes
- infallibilities
- inerrancies