decent

[ dee-suhnt ]
See synonyms for decent on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. conforming to the recognized standard of propriety, good taste, modesty, etc., as in behavior or speech.

  2. respectable; worthy: a decent family.

  1. adequate; fair; passable: a decent wage.

  2. kind; obliging; generous: It was very decent of him to lend me his watch.

  3. suitable; appropriate: She did not have a decent coat for the cold winter.

  4. of fairly attractive appearance: a decent face.

  5. Informal. wearing enough clothing to appear in public.

  6. Slang. great; wonderful.

Origin of decent

1
First recorded in 1485–95; from Latin decent-, stem of decēns “fitting,” present participle of decēre “to be acceptable, be fitting”; akin to decus “honor” (see decorous)

Other words for decent

Opposites for decent

Other words from decent

  • de·cent·ly, adverb
  • de·cent·ness, noun

Words that may be confused with decent

Words Nearby decent

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use decent in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for decent

decent

/ (ˈdiːsənt) /


adjective
  1. polite or respectable: a decent family

  2. proper and suitable; fitting: a decent burial

  1. conforming to conventions of sexual behaviour; not indecent

  2. free of oaths, blasphemy, etc: decent language

  3. good or adequate: a decent wage

  4. informal kind; generous: he was pretty decent to me

  5. informal sufficiently clothed to be seen by other people: are you decent?

Origin of decent

1
C16: from Latin decēns suitable, from decēre to be fitting

Derived forms of decent

  • decently, adverb
  • decentness, noun

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