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Synonyms

decency

American  
[dee-suhn-see] / ˈdi sən si /

noun

plural

decencies

  1. the state or quality of being decent.

  2. conformity to the recognized standard of propriety, good taste, modesty, etc.

    Synonyms:
    gentility, respectability, decorum

  3. decencies,

    1. the recognized standards of decent or proper behavior; proprieties.

      The least you can expect from them is some respect for the decencies.

    2. the requirements or amenities for decent or comfortable living.

      to be able to afford the decencies.
decency British  
/ ˈdiːsənsɪ /

noun

  1. conformity to the prevailing standards of propriety, morality, modesty, etc

  2. the quality of being decent

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

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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.

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

American politics has always produced figures eager to test the boundaries of decency.

From Salon • Mar. 12, 2026

“And reminds us that decency is a superpower.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 22, 2026

But Obama said that while travelling around the US, he found himself meeting people who "still believe in decency, courtesy, kindness".

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026

But whether that was the product of some sense of decency or their classmates simply having moved on after so long, Lydia couldn’t say.

From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner

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.