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.
Even Barnum and Bailey treated the noble animal with more decorum than Mr. Firman.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
Anyone who disobeyed decorum "might have some legal issues of your own," the officer warned.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
Don’t let things like rules and decorum get in the way of what’s in it for him.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
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
It was as if he expected us to know the meaning, along with the other words he used, like decorum.
From "P.S. Be Eleven" by Rita Williams-Garcia
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
