Facetious: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Facetious adjective. Joking about serious matters in a way that seems inappropriate or flippant.
How to say it
fuh-SEE-shus/fəˈsiːʃəs/
3 syllables, stressed on the second (SEE).
Facetious in a sentence
I was being facetious when I suggested we sell the kids; please don't tell your mother.
The committee did not appreciate his facetious remarks about the budget.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- flippant
- glib
- frivolous
- tongue-in-cheek
Opposite:
- serious
- earnest
- grave
Where facetious comes from
From French facétieux, from Latin facetia, a jest.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
The committee did not appreciate his _____ remarks about the budget.
- droll
- risible
- facetious
Show the answer
facetious: The committee did not appreciate his facetious remarks about the budget.