An affront is an action that causes offense. If someone blows smoke in your face after you've asked him to put out his cigarette, you would consider it an affront.

Affronter was an old French word meaning "to confront" or "slap in the face." It's from the Latin, ad frontem, meaning "to the face." Sure, a slap in the face would still be considered an affront, but other non-physical actions would also count. Some would even call a misplaced apostrophe an affront to the English language. Don't confuse affront with effrontery, which means "presumptuousness."

Definitions of affront

n a deliberately offensive act or something producing the effect of deliberate disrespect

an affront to one's dignity or self-esteem
outrage, scandalisation, scandalization
the act of scandalizing
Type of:
discourtesy, offence, offense, offensive activity

v treat, mention, or speak to rudely

diss, insult
Type of:
bruise, hurt, injure, offend, spite, wound
hurt the feelings of

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