facetious
UK: fəˈsiːʃəs | US: fəˈsiːʃəs
adj. treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant.
adj. (archaic) fond of or addicted to jesting.
The word "facetious" originates from the Latin "facetus," meaning "witty" or "elegant," derived from "facies" (appearance, form). Over time, it evolved in French as "facetieux" before entering English in the late 16th century. Initially, it described someone fond of jesting, but by the 17th century, it acquired its modern connotation of humor that is clever but often inappropriately timed or dismissive of seriousness. The morpheme "face" reflects the Latin root tied to outward expression, while "-tious" marks it as an adjective.
His facetious remarks during the meeting undermined the gravity of the discussion.
She struggled to take him seriously because of his consistently facetious tone.
The politician’s facetious response to the crisis angered many voters.
Despite his facetious demeanor, he was deeply concerned about the issue.
Avoid being facetious when addressing sensitive topics in professional settings.