# gaffe

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɡæf/ · frequency rank #43,660

## Definitions
1. A foolish and embarrassing error, especially one made in public; a social blunder; a breach of etiquette.

## Etymology
From French gaffe (“blunder”). Doublet of gaff.

## Easily confused with
- **game** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gaffe-vs-game)
- **gave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gaffe-vs-gave)
- **gaze** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gaffe-vs-gaze)
- **gale** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gaffe-vs-gale)
- **gage** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gaffe-vs-gage)
- **goff** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gaffe-vs-goff)
- **Gaye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gaffe-vs-gaye)
- **gare** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gaffe-vs-gare)
- **gauge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gaffe-vs-gauge)
- **Gayle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gaffe-vs-gayle)
- **gauze** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gaffe-vs-gauze)
- **graff** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gaffe-vs-graff)
- **gaffer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gaffe-vs-gaffer)
- **Geffen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gaffe-vs-geffen)
- **giraffe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gaffe-vs-giraffe)
- **Gaffney** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gaffe-vs-gaffney)
- **Gabe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gabe-vs-gaffe)
- **gaff** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gaff-vs-gaffe)
- **gable** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gable-vs-gaffe)

## Common misspellings (5)
`agffe`, `gafe`, `gafef`, `gfafe`, `ggaffe`

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