peccadillo

American  

[pek-uh-dil-oh] / ˌpɛk əˈdɪl oʊ /

noun

plural

peccadilloes, peccadillos

1. a very minor or slight sin or offense; a trifling fault.

   Synonyms:

   indiscretion, faux pas, slip, lapse

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peccadillo British  

/ ˌpɛkəˈdɪləʊ /

noun

1. a petty sin or trifling fault

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Etymology

Origin of peccadillo

1585–95; < Spanish pecadillo, diminutive of pecado sin < Latin peccātum transgression, noun use of neuter of past participle of peccāre to err, offend

Explanation

A peccadillo is a minor offense or sin. Parents recognize that their kids have a few peccadilloes: they don't always remember to say please and thank you, don't put their dirty clothes in the hamper, and worst of all, they keep finding the chocolate stash! Peccadillo is based on the Spanish word peccado, meaning "sin," with a diminutive added, making peccadillo a small sin. How big a sin is a peccadillo? Well, that depends on whom you ask. The person committing the offense is likely to try to pass off any number of transgressions and mistakes as peccadilloes. If you apologize and are forgiven, it's probably a peccadillo. If your transgression could get you fired, it's probably not!

Example Sentences

"Scotland has one peccadillo and that is Cardinal O'Brien," he says.

From BBC • May 7, 2025

A love of disinformation is the peccadillo that springs from bigotry, not the other way around.

From Salon • Jul. 13, 2022

But at L.S.U., about the only unpardonable peccadillo is failing to win.

From New York Times • Oct. 18, 2021

This is not a whimsical peccadillo to be written off against the backdrop of an otherwise progressive outlook.

From Slate • Nov. 8, 2018

However, after a certain amount of journalistic jubilation when the award went against us, our cousins overseas charitably allowed the memory of our peccadillo to accumulate dust.

From The Unpopular Review, Number 19 July-December 1918 by Various

Related Words

• impropriety
• indiscretion