decency
Americannoun
plural
decencies-
the state or quality of being decent.
-
conformity to the recognized standard of propriety, good taste, modesty, etc.
- Synonyms:
- gentility, respectability, decorum
-
decencies,
noun
-
conformity to the prevailing standards of propriety, morality, modesty, etc
-
the quality of being decent
Etymology
Origin of decency
1560–70; < Latin decentia comeliness, decency, equivalent to decent- (stem of decēns ) fitting ( decent ) + -ia noun suffix
Explanation
The personal quality of decency is one of honesty, good manners, and respect for other people. Over time, decency has referred to manners, but today decency is mainly a strong sense of right and wrong, and a high standard of honesty. When a criminal or dictator does horrible things, people assume they have no sense of decency. When a tasteless or violent TV show becomes popular, some people wonder if society has lost its sense of decency. Asking "Have you no decency?" is a serious question, unless you're being silly and complaining about something like homework.
Vocabulary lists containing decency
Michelle Obama's Speech at the 2016 DNC
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"Ad Power," "Without Commercials," and "What's Wrong with Advertising"
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My Brother Sam is Dead
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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.
A: Ruth symbolizes what she herself expressed: decency.
From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026
Yet Leo found—his son tells us with eloquent understatement—that “some Germans managed to remain decent, when decency could be very dangerous.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026
In October 2025, a 67-year-old retiree from Philadelphia sent an email to the Department of Homeland Security pleading for basic decency in how they carried out a high-profile asylum case.
From Salon • Mar. 12, 2026
"She was interested in the world around her and made the most of life. There was a depth to her, she led her life with decency and integrity," Susan Everard wrote.
From BBC • Mar. 3, 2026
It was nice to know there was some shred of decency left in the wide world of Granger sports.
From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan
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.
