pratfall

[ prat-fawl ]

noun

1. a fall in which one lands on the buttocks, often regarded as comical or humiliating.
2. a humiliating blunder or defeat.

pratfall

/ ˈprætˌfɔːl /

noun

1. slang.
   a fall upon one's buttocks

Word History and Origins

Origin of pratfall¹

First recorded in 1935–40; prat + fall

Word History and Origins

Origin of pratfall¹

C20: from C16 prat buttocks (of unknown origin) + fall

Example Sentences

And the “memoir” we’re invited to observe is a wounding one, rife with heartbreak and trauma — but also, as it turns out, raunchy humor and slapstick pratfalls, literate puns and winking sight gags.

From Los Angeles Times

This might be an exorcism of the time she broke her neck while doing a pratfall as Cinderella in the 2002 revival of “Into the Woods.”

From New York Times

Using the Republican's own words against her in a quote-tweet response, Simon asked, "Are you intentional or just an accident," adding, "You complete submoronic pratfall of a human being."

From Salon

Young female athletes take pratfalls across a variety of sports in what turns out to be a public service announcement for body positivity.

From New York Times

In a career that spans more than half a century, President Biden has long been known all too well for mangling words, names and dates in verbal pratfalls known, perhaps gently, as gaffes.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• flop
• stumble
• wallow