# gaffe vs gaffer

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### gaffe
*noun · IPA /ɡæf/ · frequency rank #43,660*
A foolish and embarrassing error, especially one made in public; a social blunder; a breach of etiquette.

### gaffer
*noun · IPA /ɡæfɚ/ · frequency rank #48,759*
A chief lighting technician for a motion-picture or television production.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gaffe-vs-gaffer