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DictionarygaucheSocially awkward
adjective

gauche

GOHSH/ɡoʊʃ/

Awkward or tactless in social situations.

Her gauche reach across her neighbor's face startles him.

At a neatly set dinner table, a guest gauchely stretches her arm directly across her neighbor’s face to grab a bread roll, oblivious to his startled backward lean.
Etymology
gaucheFrenchturn aside, swerve

Turning aside or swerving underlies the French adjective’s earlier sense ‘awkward, awry.’ In the selected meaning, that lack of smoothness describes social behavior: someone gauche handles an interaction awkwardly or tactlessly.

In context

Brenna Perez2:29
but how gauche. To only have your wealth to attract people to your presence and such a lack of subtlety or self-awareness
The Definition of "Gauche" : Lauren Sanchez at the Met Gala

More examples

  • She feels gauche among the experienced diplomats.
  • Asking about the gift's price seems rather gauche.
  • He apologizes for his gauche interruption.

Forms

gauche · more gauche · most gauche

Similar words

awkward
The broader term for social or physical clumsiness.
tactless
Tactless disregards others’ sensitivities; gauche can simply be socially clumsy or inexperienced.