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fauxppointment (n.) - an appointment for which the designated time does not actually matter.

A relatively recent coinage, fauxppointment dates back to a Wednesday in mid-September 2010. On that day a much older and wiser Sandy Dunlap placed a call to a local mechanic. The mechanic answered, and a time was arranged for Sandy to bring in his vehicle for inspection and possible repair.

“What time’s good for you?” Sandy asked.

“Anytime’s good for me,” the mechanic said. “Your call.”

“How about…two-fifteen?”

“That’s fine.”

“Oh, you know what…we better make it two.”

“That’s fine too.”

Sandy paused, as he realized then that perhaps the time did not in fact matter. And yet the mechanic’s website said appointments were mandatory. Sandy’s realization was validated when he showed up at the mechanic’s just before two only to find that another customer had been taken just before him, and he would have to wait another thirty minutes for inspection to begin on his car.

“What a frickin’ fauxppointment,” Sandy muttered under his breath as he picked up a copy of Harper’s Bazaar and started flipping. 

Since that fateful day, fauxppointment has been overheard in conversations centering on everything from dinner reservations to manis and pedis. This word knows nothing of discrimination. 

in use: “You know today’s meeting?”

“The one at five?”

“No, it’s at four-thirty.”

“Four-thirty?”

“We agreed. It was at four-thirty.”

….

“Anyway, I thought we could move it up to four, just to get out a little early. What do you say?”

“It could be at 4. It might have to be at 4:30 by the time I get there. Better be safe and move it to 5:07.”

“5:07?”

“5:10. Just to be safe.”

“Um….”

“It’s a fauxppointment. A firm fauxppointment. Don’t argue. I’m pulling rank.”