dignity
Americannoun
plural
dignities-
bearing, conduct, or speech indicative of self-respect or appreciation of the formality or gravity of an occasion or situation.
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nobility or elevation of character; worthiness.
dignity of sentiments.
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elevated rank, office, station, etc.
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relative standing; rank.
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a sign or token of respect.
an impertinent question unworthy of the dignity of an answer.
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Archaic.
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person of high rank or title.
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such persons collectively.
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noun
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a formal, stately, or grave bearing
he entered with dignity
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the state or quality of being worthy of honour
the dignity of manual labour
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relative importance; rank
he is next in dignity to the mayor
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sense of self-importance (often in the phrases stand (or be ) on one's dignity, beneath one's dignity )
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high rank, esp in government or the church
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a person of high rank or such persons collectively
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Photos and videos taken by participants will be anonymised and hope to show the effect of fuel poverty on people's health, wellbeing, and dignity.
From BBC
Minnesota is a state that believes in the rule of law and in the dignity of all people.
Restoring dignity to Short’s legacy was paramount to Mann; to solve her crime was never his aim.
From Los Angeles Times
“Youth, families, and medical providers have constitutional rights to privacy and dignity,” she said in a statement.
From Los Angeles Times
We show that universal human dignity still commands our allegiance, that freedom is still worth defending at cost and risk.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
