decorum
Americannoun
-
dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
- Synonyms:
- dignity, politeness
-
the quality or state of being decorous, or exhibiting such dignified propriety; orderliness; regularity.
-
Usually decorums an observance or requirement of polite society.
noun
-
propriety, esp in behaviour or conduct
-
a requirement of correct behaviour in polite society
Synonym Usage
See etiquette.
Etymology
Origin of decorum
First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin decōrum, noun use of neuter of decōrus decorous
Explanation
Decorum is proper and polite behavior. If you let out a big belch at a fancy dinner party, you're not showing much decorum. This noun is from Latin decōrus "proper, becoming, handsome," from décor "beauty, grace," which is also the source of English décor. The corresponding adjective is decorous, meaning "well-behaved in a particular situation." Both decorum and decorous are often used to describe behavior in a classroom or courtroom.
Vocabulary lists containing decorum
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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.
They had goals to meet and, consciously or not, they did not adhere to professional and personal decorum in order to achieve those goals.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 2, 2026
There is a brief address from management reminding diners of the "charter" committing them to behave with respect and decorum, and then the fun begins.
From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026
There’s so much decorum among judges, this infamous brotherhood of the robe, that keeps them from directly criticizing one another.
From Slate • May 18, 2026
Such questions would have constituted a serious breach in human decorum.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026
Mozart’s emotional subtext, on the other hand, is disguised beneath the sheen of decorum and poise required of an eighteenth-century artisan.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
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.
