dignity

American  

[dig-ni-tee] / ˈdɪg nɪ ti /

noun

• dignities
  plural

1. bearing, conduct, or speech indicative of self-respect or appreciation of the formality or gravity of an occasion or situation.

2. nobility or elevation of character; worthiness.

   dignity of sentiments.

3. elevated rank, office, station, etc.

4. relative standing; rank.

5. a sign or token of respect.

   an impertinent question unworthy of the dignity of an answer.

6. Archaic.

   1. person of high rank or title.

   2. such persons collectively.

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dignity British  

/ ˈdɪɡnɪtɪ /

noun

1. a formal, stately, or grave bearing

   he entered with dignity

2. the state or quality of being worthy of honour

   the dignity of manual labour

3. relative importance; rank

   he is next in dignity to the mayor

4. sense of self-importance (often in the phrases stand (or be ) on one's dignity, beneath one's dignity )

5. high rank, esp in government or the church

6. a person of high rank or such persons collectively

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• dignities
  plural

Etymology

Origin of dignity

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English dignite, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Latin dignitās “worthiness,” from dign(us) “worthy” + -itās -ity

Explanation

If someone has dignity, it means they are worthy of respect. If you really want the lead role in a play and you try to bribe the director to give it to you, she might say, “Have you no dignity?” Someone with dignity carries herself well. If you lose an election, and you say nasty things about your opponent and try to undermine her, you are acting without dignity. But if you graciously congratulate her and accept the results, then you are behaving in a dignified manner. We also talk about human dignity, which is an idea of what separates humans from animals. Human Rights activists believe that everyone has the right to live with dignity.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dignity dignities

When Teng feels that including a photo of dead children violates their dignity, Perlmutter chides her, insisting that their obligation is to show Americans what their tax dollars are funding.

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

In Tuesday's court order, the panel wrote: "We are mindful of the constitutional and legal obligation... to safeguard the life, health, dignity and security of the prisoner."

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

Hiding away in a glorified ice chest would also have been a blow to the 80-year-old’s dignity.

From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026

Despite this, he took my arm and walked through the crowd with quiet dignity.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026

My instinct was to rush outside and help him back into the warm house, but I fought it, knowing it would be just another blow to his dignity.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

FIFA, soccer’s global governing body, had numerous chances to take a stand for basic human dignities.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 17, 2022

“At the California Department of Justice, we’ll continue to do our part to stand up for the dignities and rights of everyone in our state.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2022

A former president can give a view on almost anything, past dignities conferring importance upon their every thought.

From The Guardian ● Oct. 20, 2017

But Smarsh’s story demonstrates an urgent truth of today’s unforgiving economy, that a college degree no longer unlocks the gates to the dignities of the middle class as it once did.

From Salon ● Sep. 2, 2017

But happening to look up at Mrs. Pocket as she sat reading her book of dignities after prescribing Bed as a sovereign remedy for baby, I thought—Well—No, I wouldn’t.

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

Related Words

• decency
• decorum
• grace
• grandeur
• greatness
• honor
• morality
• poise
• prestige
• quality
• respectability
• self-respect
• stature
• status
• virtue