Definition of 'facetious'

Word Frequency

facetious

(fəsiːʃəs )

adjective

If you say that someone is being facetious, you are criticizing them because they are making humorous remarks or saying things that they do not mean in a situation where they ought to be serious.

[disapproval]

The woman eyed him coldly. 'Don't be facetious,' she said.

Synonyms: flippant, funny, amusing, witty More Synonyms of facetious

facetiously graded adverb [ADVERB with verb]

Al facetiously described himself as the Last Angry Man.

Word Frequency

facetious in British

(fəˈsiːʃəs )

adjective

characterized by levity of attitude and love of joking

a facetious person

jocular or amusing, esp at inappropriate times

facetious remarks

Derived forms

facetiously (faˈcetiously)

adverb

facetiousness (faˈcetiousness)

noun

Word origin of 'facetious'

C16: from Old French facetieux, from facetie witty saying; see facetiae

Word Frequency

facetious in American

(fəˈsiʃəs ; fəsēˈshəs)

adjective

joking or trying to be jocular, esp. at an inappropriate time

SIMILAR WORDS: ˈwitty

Derived forms

facetiously (faˈcetiously)

adverb

facetiousness (faˈcetiousness)

noun

Word origin of 'facetious'

Fr facétieux < L facetia: see facetiae & -ous

Example sentences containing 'facetious'

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Neil was suspicious of the old pilot's facetious tone, sensing that some elaborate practical joke was about to unfold. Ballard, J. G. RUSHING TO PARADISE (1999)Five vowels in the right order occurred in the word ` facetious ". Aird, Catherine A DEAD LIBERTY (1999)

To his credit, he didn't even try to answer any of my facetious questions. Patricia Gaffney THE SAVING GRACES (1999)

Trends of 'facetious'

Used Occasionally. facetious is one of the 30000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

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Nearby words of 'facetious'

Source

Definition of facetious from the Collins English Dictionary

Verbal nouns

The verbal noun is the -ing form, i.e. the present participle of the verb, used as a noun. It can be used in all the places that a noun can be used, but still keeps some characteristics of the verb. ...