common decency

American  

[kom-uhn dee-suhn-see] / ˈkɒm ən ˈdi sən si /

noun

1. moral or ethical behavior that is guided by fairness, empathy, propriety, justice, etc..

   What ever happened to restraint, respect, and common decency?

   Let's show some common decency and humanity and make the law nondiscriminatory.

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Etymology

Origin of common decency

First recorded in 1630–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

common decency

The committee noted that while the government's student loan policies were exempt from consumer protection laws, it expected the government "to comply with not only the law, but basic fairness and common decency".

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

Most Americans understand this instinctively and reject government actions that violate their sense of what law and common decency permit.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 3, 2026

“On its own, social isolation can foster a sense of alienation from humanity — from the common decency, social norms and kindness — that create safety in society,” Manly said.

From Salon ● Jan. 14, 2024

As a chief executive with 114 million followers, he’s someone who shouldn’t be mocking common decency and facts.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 8, 2022

That the military was accountable, reasonable, and was kept in check by concentric circles of regulations, laws, common sense, common decency.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers