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peccadillo

Noun

IPA /ˌpekəˈdɪləʊ/

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Meaning in plain English

A small fault or relatively minor act of wrongdoing.

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Pronunciation

peccadillo/ˌpekəˈdɪləʊ/

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On a scale

A relatively small lapse
Not a label for serious harm

A peccadillo is a minor failing, not major wrongdoing.

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Examples in context

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The memoir treats his habit of taking hotel pens as a peccadillo.
The reviewer dismissed the character's harmless vanity as a minor peccadillo.

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The memoir treats his habit of taking hotel pens as a ________.

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peccadillo — A small fault or relatively minor act of wrongdoing.

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A small fault or relatively minor act of wrongdoing.

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Word origin

From Spanish pecadillo, a diminutive of pecado, meaning sin.

Did you know?

Minor peccadillo stresses that the fault is being regarded as small.

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