Tactlessness
/ˈtækt.ləs.nəs/noun
The quality of being insensitive or lacking in social judgment.
Did you know?"Tact" ultimately comes from Latin *tangere* (“to touch”), the same ancient root behind words like *contact* and *tangible*, so tactlessness is literally a failure of social touch.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*tag-
“to touch, handle”
Latin
Latin
tangere
“to touch”
Latin
Latin
tactus
“a touching; sense of touch”
17th Century
English
tact
“sense of touch; keen perception or judgment in handling situations”
19th Century
English
tactless
“lacking tact; insensitive in dealing with people”
19th Century
English
tactlessness
“the state or quality of being tactless”