comity

[ kom-i-tee ]

noun

, plural com·i·ties.

1. mutual courtesy; civility.
2. Also called comity of nations. courtesy between nations, as in respect shown by one country for the laws, judicial decisions, and institutions of another.

comity

/ ˈkɒmɪtɪ /

noun

1. mutual civility; courtesy
2. See comity of nations
   short for comity of nations
3. the policy whereby one religious denomination refrains from proselytizing the members of another

Word History and Origins

Origin of comity¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin cōmitās, equivalent to cōm(is) “affable” + -itās -ity

Word History and Origins

Origin of comity¹

C16: from Latin cōmitās, from cōmis affable, obliging, of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

In a Senate famed for its comity, this was the equivalent of unleashing an airhorn inside an oboe recital.

From Time

The biggest danger from Rogozin’s latest threat is not to the station itself, but to the international comity that has kept the giant outpost flying for the past 24 years.

From Time

There are signs, for instance, that trust in institutions continues to fade and comity is a fleeting commodity.

From Time

A truly inclusive country cannot be built by appealing to a largely mythic past of comity and unity.

From Washington Post

Progressive activists who are looking at Washington and questioning whether the Beltway wisdom of moderation, compromise and comity makes sense in Richmond.

From Time

And the newfound comity in Congress might ease the path for raising the debt ceiling early next year with a minimum of drama.

From The Daily Beast

Republicans have pushed every procedural edge as a minority, undermining the basic trust and comity of the institution.

From The Daily Beast

But... There are one or two matters we need to clear up, in the interests of transatlantic comity.

From The Daily Beast

Since greed tended to prevail over comity, the Great Plains bred depressives and sociopaths.

From The Daily Beast

Part of the reason for the comity in the wake of Sandy is that they have been co-captaining the same ship for quite a while now.

From The Daily Beast

When shall we see some real comity of nations in these matters of international marriage and divorce?

From Project Gutenberg

A comity iv ladies wud make Congress repeal th' ten commandments.

From Project Gutenberg

They'd been there befure an' dhriven th' Demon Rum fr'm th' resthrant into a lair in th' comity room.

From Project Gutenberg

We found them, wherever they were encountered, a people of friendly manners and comity.

From Project Gutenberg

Nothing so bold had ever been attempted since Christendom had 254 grown into the comity of nations it now was.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• accord
• affection
• agreement
• closeness
• devotion
• good will
• harmony
• intimacy
• love
• pact
• rapport
• society
• solidarity
• understanding

More About Comity

What does comity mean?

Comity means mutual respect or civility. When two people or groups show comity, they behave toward each other in a way that’s respectful, courteous, and polite.

The term is used in a more specific way to refer to mutual respect demonstrated by two nations, especially by respecting and abiding by each other’s laws and judicial decisions. This is sometimes referred to by the phrase comity of nations.

Example: The two nations have a long tradition of comity, which makes the recent disagreement about extradition seem very unusual.

Where does comity come from?

The first records of comity come from the 1500s. It comes from the Latin word cōmitās, from cōm(is), meaning “affable” or “friendly.” The suffix -ity is used to form abstract nouns that refer to a state or condition. When these elements are considered together, comity can be seen generally as a state of friendliness.

The term comity can refer to a sense of civility among two people or two groups in any setting. But it is especially used in the context of international law and business. In a legal sense, comity is the principle of respecting the laws of another entity. The phrase judicial comity refers to a court respecting the rulings of another jurisdiction. When used in the phrase comity of nations, comity refers to an interaction between countries in which each follows the laws of the other.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to comity?

• comities (plural)

What are some synonyms for comity?

• civility
• courtesy
• politesse
• affability
• friendliness

What are some words that share a root or word element with comity? 

 

• comity of nations

 

What are some words that often get used in discussing comity?

 

• respect
• law
• jurisdiction
• accord
• rights

How is comity used in real life?

Comity is most frequently used in political or legal contexts to describe the practice of recognizing the rules or laws of another party. It is also used more generally to describe a state of mutual respect between parties.

In this article, I suggest comity & act of state doctrine not appropriate tools for constitutional courts adjudicating on extraterritorial exercises of state power. Article has 2018 date, but published late 2019. Ecopy here: https://t.co/ZaafGzpZ3r #internationalaw #auspublaw

— Dr. Danielle Ireland-Piper (@IrelandPiper) April 23, 2020

The ecumenical movement is not very interesting if it is simply an apparatus for practical comity and joint political agitation 1/2

— Robert W. Jenson (@RobertWJenson1) April 21, 2020

I have a dream that Nigeria will come to regard one another as their brother’s keepers.
I have a dream that Nigeria will take her proper place in the comity of nations and will be one of the leading nations of the world. https://t.co/euKre4AYQ0

— 𝔼𝕤𝕡í𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕦🔰 (@___Chindo) December 21, 2019

 

 

Try using comity!

Which of the following terms is NOT a synonym of comity?

A. civility
B. courtesy
C. disrespect
D. friendliness