propriety

American  

[pruh-prahy-i-tee] / prəˈpraɪ ɪ ti /

noun

• proprieties
  plural

1. conformity to established standards of good or proper behavior or manners.

   Synonyms:

   modesty, decency

2. appropriateness to the purpose or circumstances; suitability.

   Synonyms:

   seemliness, fitness, aptness

3. rightness or justness.

   Synonyms:

   correctness

4. the proprieties, the conventional standards of proper behavior; manners.

   to observe the proprieties.

5. Obsolete. a property.

6. Obsolete. a peculiarity or characteristic of something.

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propriety British  

/ prəˈpraɪətɪ /

noun

1. the quality or state of being appropriate or fitting

2. conformity to the prevailing standard of behaviour, speech, etc

3. (plural) the standards of behaviour considered correct by polite society

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Synonym Usage

See etiquette.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonpropriety
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• proprieties
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of propriety

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English propriete “ownership, something owned, one's own nature” (compare variant proprete property ), from Middle French propriété, from Latin proprietāt-, stem of proprietās “peculiarity, ownership,” equivalent to propri(us) proper + -etās, variant, after vowels, of -itās -ity

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Explanation

Propriety is following what is socially acceptable in speech and behavior. Your little brother might offend your sense of propriety by burping loudly at the dinner table. Propriety is like the noun form of "proper" and "appropriate." It comes from the same root as the word property, in the sense of "a distinctive character or quality." The opposite of propriety is impropriety, meaning "rude or inappropriate." If you're someone who is overly concerned with propriety, your friends beg you to loosen up now and then.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

propriety proprieties

Some play off a character’s propriety, all profit from the actor’s charm — which might be turned to evil ends but remain, for the viewer, you know, charming.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026

Their propriety is debatable, but as a matter of historical precedent and law, they aren’t war crimes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 15, 2026

Swinney said that rule was introduced to "set the highest standard of propriety and integrity".

From BBC ● Dec. 23, 2025

Does it reflect a schism within the military over its propriety?

From Slate ● Oct. 21, 2025

“Mrs. Weston’s manners,” said Emma, “were always particularly good. Their propriety, simplicity, and elegance, would make them the safest model for any young woman.”

From "Emma" by Jane Austen

He was concerned that if he died intestate, his proprieties would not be passed to Li.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 24, 2023

White says that the song was a declaration that the White Stripes weren’t going to observe punk proprieties.

From The New Yorker ● Mar. 5, 2017

Did you know that “stickler” was another name for the second, whose chief responsibility, after all, was to make sure that all the proprieties were strictly observed?

From Washington Post ● Jul. 8, 2015

He allowed himself to be governed by the habits, proprieties and slower time scale of the Arab world.

From New York Times ● Sep. 15, 2012

Upon arrival in the Himalaya, Pittman appeared to adhere as closely as possible to the proprieties of high society.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

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Related Words

• correctness
• decorum
• legitimacy
• morality
• rectitude
• respectability
• suitability

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