# gaffe vs gauge

> 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.

### gauge
*noun · IPA /ˈɡeɪd͡ʒ/ · frequency rank #6,912*
A measure; a standard of measure; an instrument to determine dimensions, distance, or capacity; a standard

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