manners
Britishplural noun
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social conduct
he has the manners of a pig
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a socially acceptable way of behaving
Explanation
Manners are the proper or polite way to behave in public. If you take the chewing gum out of your mouth and stick it behind your ear before a meal, you need to work on your manners. You can also call manners "etiquette." It shows good manners when you hold doors open for other people, say "please" and "thank you," and refrain from burping in public. Manners vary between different cultures: you're displaying good manners if you slurp your noodles in Japan, though it's bad manners in the U.S. And in some Middle Eastern countries, burping after a meal is actually a sign of excellent manners.
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.
Margot Robbie, Reese Witherspoon and even Sir Keir Starmer accepted Ware’s invitations onto Table Manners, her hit food podcast featuring her mum Lennie.
From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026
A strong international lineup includes director Molly Manners debut feature "Extra Geography" from the UK and queer genre film "Leviticus" from Australia.
From Barron's • Jan. 22, 2026
"I can go to the supermarket in sportswear, my hair in disarray, and nobody cares," she told the podcast Table and Manners in 2023.
From Barron's • Oct. 22, 2025
Manners were such a crazy thing in my childhood — it’s the only way I know how to speak to people.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 9, 2025
Manners Mistress would consider me an utter failure.
From "Ella Enchanted" by Gail Carson Levine
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.
