YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

facetious

Adjective

IPA /fəˈsiːʃəs/

Understand it. Say it. Use it.

UNDERSTAND THE WORD

Meaning in plain English

Trying to be funny about a matter that deserves serious attention, in a way that can annoy or offend others.

SAY IT ALOUD

Pronunciation

facetious/fəˈsiːʃəs/

PICTURE THE IDEA

See the meaning

Compare

Someone raises a serious concern
Another person makes an inappropriate joke

A facetious remark tries to be funny when the situation calls for seriousness.

SEE IT IN EVERYDAY ENGLISH

Examples in context

Read the examples aloud. Notice how the word fits the sentence, then think of a situation of your own.

His facetious answer upset me because I was genuinely asking for help.
The tutor asked us to avoid facetious comments during the serious debate.

MAKE IT STICK

Quick word quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the word?

Complete the example using the word from this lesson.

His ________ answer upset me because I was genuinely asking for help.

Show the answer

facetious — Trying to be funny about a matter that deserves serious attention, in a way that can annoy or offend others.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “facetious” about your own life.

Your sentence (optional)

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

Trying to be funny about a matter that deserves serious attention, in a way that can annoy or offend others.

Compare: His facetious answer upset me because I was genuinely asking for help.

Check the spelling and how the word fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.

This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.

Word origin

From French facetieux, ultimately related to Latin facetia, meaning a joke.

Did you know?

Facetious often describes a comment or remark whose humour seems inappropriate to the situation.

Explore related words

Open a word’s lesson when available, or explore entries that use the related term.

Make the word your own

Say the word aloud and read an example sentence.
Write a new sentence about something familiar to you.
Cover the meaning and try explaining the word in your own words.

Continue with the app’s practice check, then try a sentence of your own to mark this word complete.

Practise this word in the app

Completion and saved words stay in this browser on this device.