facetious
Say it: fuh-SEE-shus /fəˈsiːʃəs/ · adjective
What “facetious” means
Joking about something serious when a joke isn't appropriate.
More precisely: Treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humour; flippant.
Example: “I was being facetious when I suggested we close the budget gap with a bake sale.”
When to use it
Use it when someone makes a deliberately silly joke about a serious matter, often to explain or criticise their tone.
Similar words
flippant, glib, tongue-in-cheek
Where it comes from
From French facétieux, from Latin facetia, 'jest'.
Quick check
During a serious discussion about school repairs, you suggest training squirrels to fix the roof. You're being…
facetious or practical?
Show the answer
facetious
Learn 5 new words a day in Kinquire. Each with a picture, how to say it, an example and a quick check, then spaced review so you actually keep them. Free to start.
Learn “facetious”