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DictionarypeccadilloMinor wrongdoing
noun

peccadillo

pek-uh-DIL-oh/ˌpekəˈdɪləʊ/

A minor fault or wrongdoing.

She overlooks his occasional peccadilloes because he usually treats people well.

A man is caught sneaking a fingerful of frosting from a freshly iced cake.
Etymology
peccadSpanishsin
+illoSpanishlittle

Pecado means 'sin,' and the diminutive makes it a 'little sin.' That reduced scale explains why a peccadillo is a minor fault rather than a grave offense.

More examples

  • He considers taking an extra cookie a harmless peccadillo.
  • Her memoir openly admits the peccadilloes of her youth.
  • Stealing company funds is no mere peccadillo.

Forms

peccadillo · peccadillos · peccadilloes

Similar words

lapse
Emphasizes a temporary failure in judgment or proper behavior.
misdeed
Names a wrongful act without implying that it is minor.
fault
Can describe a lasting character flaw, not just minor wrongdoing.