persiflage
/ˈpəːsɪflɑːʒ
/noun [mass noun] formal
Light and slightly contemptuous mockery or banter: an air of persiflage...
- Its all ephemera and persiflage, as we sit mocking in the plumes as political gadflies who tell the truth.
- When they look at academic discourse they see only persiflage: fancy words, convoluted syntax, and the pretentious invocation of authority.
- He was not one to mince matters, nor did he wrap up inconvenient topics in persiflage.
Origin
Mid 18th century: from French persifler 'to banter', based on siffler 'to whistle'.