decent

[ dee-suhnt ]

adjective

1. conforming to the recognized standard of propriety, good taste, modesty, etc., as in behavior or speech.

   Synonyms: decorous, proper, seemly

   Antonyms: unseemly

2. respectable; worthy:

   a decent family.

3. adequate; fair; passable:

   a decent wage.

4. kind; obliging; generous:

   It was very decent of him to lend me his watch.

5. suitable; appropriate:

   She did not have a decent coat for the cold winter.

   Synonyms: becoming, fit, apt

   Antonyms: inappropriate

6. of fairly attractive appearance:

   a decent face.

7. Informal. wearing enough clothing to appear in public.
8. Slang. great; wonderful.

decent

/ ˈdiːsənt /

adjective

1. polite or respectable

   a decent family

2. proper and suitable; fitting

   a decent burial

3. conforming to conventions of sexual behaviour; not indecent
4. free of oaths, blasphemy, etc

   decent language

5. good or adequate

   a decent wage

6. informal.
   kind; generous

   he was pretty decent to me

7. informal.
   sufficiently clothed to be seen by other people

   are you decent?

Derived Forms

• ˈdecently, adverb
• ˈdecentness, noun

Other Words From

• decent·ly adverb
• decent·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of decent¹

First recorded in 1485–95; from Latin decent-, stem of decēns “fitting,” present participle of decēre “to be acceptable, be fitting”; akin to decus “honor” ( decorous )

Word History and Origins

Origin of decent¹

C16: from Latin decēns suitable, from decēre to be fitting

Example Sentences

Almost everyone there will be a decent person and treat you well.

From The Daily Beast

She assured me he was a decent human being and the love of her life.

From The Daily Beast

I vividly recall, that day and the weeks afterward, people groping for a decent way forward.

From The Daily Beast

I finish a decent game, type my initials, and decide to call it quits.

From The Daily Beast

The problem is that being a decent person in an indecent situation is not enough, even though it may also be all you can do.

From The Daily Beast

If I could catch Laura's eye—but I suppose it would hardly be decent to go just yet.

From Project Gutenberg

Both had appealed to Napoleon; consequently there was a decent pretext for sending a French army into Spain.

From Project Gutenberg

Good place to lop about, y' know; a decent place to sit, and a few books and cards and that sort of thing.

From Project Gutenberg

Never smoke when the pores are open: they absorb, and you are unfit for decent society.

From Project Gutenberg

For at least ten years previous to 1901, San Francisco had enjoyed a period of not only decent but honorable government.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• acceptable
• adequate
• comfortable
• competent
• fair
• good
• mediocre
• reasonable
• respectable
• satisfactory