Facetious
/fəˈsiːʃəs/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Facetious describes when someone says something funny or playful about a serious topic. It is not meant to be rude but can sometimes seem like the person is not taking the matter seriously. People use it to make light jokes or clever remarks.
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See It in Action
Making jokes about serious or important matters
- •He was being facetious when he joked about the deadline.
- •Her facetious comments during the meeting made some people laugh, but others were offended.
- •Don’t be facetious about health issues; they are very important.
Not meant to be taken seriously; playful or humorous
- •The teacher’s facetious tone helped the students feel relaxed.
- •She gave a facetious answer to avoid the difficult question.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "facetious" like "funny," but specifically when the joke is about something serious or important
- ✓Picture a person smiling and making a small joke during a serious meeting, trying to lighten the mood
- ✓It's the feeling when someone tries to be clever or playful, but you wonder if they really mean it
- ✓Sounds like "face-shush-us" → imagine someone putting a finger to their face to "shush" while making a joke quietly
- ✓Think of a comedian who makes jokes about serious news—trying to be funny but about serious things
- ✓NOT like "serious" (focused and important), "facetious" is playful and joking even if the topic is serious
- ✓NOT like "rude" (meant to hurt), "facetious" is meant to be funny, though it might sometimes annoy people
- ✓NOT like "funny" in general, "facetious" is a special kind of humor about serious or sensitive topics
Try Other Words
- •Sarcastic: saying the opposite of what you mean to be funny or hurtful (Use when humor is sharp or biting)
- •Playful: light and fun behavior (Use when the mood is light and friendly)
- •Ironic: meaning the opposite of what is said, often to show a difference between reality and words (Use when the joke is about contradiction)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "face" (from Latin facētus meaning witty or clever) + suffix "-ious" (makes adjective)
- •Etymology: From Latin "facetia" meaning witty or cleverness, first used in English in the 1600s
- •Historical development: Originally meant clever or witty speech; over time, it came to mean joking in a way that might not be serious or could be misunderstood
- •Modern usage: Used to describe joking or playful comments especially when about serious or sensitive topics
Reflect & Connect
•When can being facetious help a conversation, and when can it cause problems?
•How do you decide if a facetious comment is funny or hurtful in different cultures?
Fill in the blanks
1.He was being facetious because he wanted to ___ the serious mood with a joke.
2.Sometimes facetious remarks can ___ people if they think the topic is too important.
3.Unlike serious comments, facetious words are meant to be ___ and not taken literally.
4.She made a facetious joke ___ the problem to make everyone laugh.
5.People often use the word facetious with ___ like "a little" or "slightly" to show mild joking.
6.When someone is facetious, they usually ___ a playful or joking tone.
7.If you are facetious in a serious meeting, you might ___ misunderstandings or upset others.