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deportment

American  
[dih-pawrt-muhnt, -pohrt-] / dɪˈpɔrt mənt, -ˈpoʊrt- /

noun

  1. demeanor; conduct; behavior.

  2. the conduct or obedience of a child in school, as graded by a teacher.


deportment British  
/ dɪˈpɔːtmənt /

noun

  1. the manner in which a person behaves, esp in physical bearing

    military deportment

"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

Related Words

See behavior.

Etymology

Origin of deportment

1595–1605; < French déportement, equivalent to déporte ( r ) ( see deport) + -ment -ment

Explanation

Deportment has to do with how you behave and present yourself. Being polite, well-dressed, and soft-spoken shows excellent deportment. People say you shouldn't judge by appearances, but how you present yourself — your deportment — matters. How you dress, speak, look and carry yourself is all part of deportment or demeanor. If you're polite, helpful, and smile a lot, your deportment is friendly and kind. If you're constantly swearing and shouting, your deportment is negative and hostile.

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Vocabulary lists containing deportment

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 saw an old file cabinet and pulled out a drawer, where they found two Fort Simcoe boarding school registers of attendance and deportment.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 18, 2022

Nor did he show any sign of taking them more seriously than he has taken past allegations of bias in his company’s workplaces or criticisms of his own deportment.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 14, 2022

However, in each of his persuasive speeches to world leaders and conversations with journalists, Zelenskyy conveys the deportment of a rational, determined man.

From Salon • Mar. 5, 2022

There was a seriousness about the place, a decorum and deportment.

From New York Times • Nov. 12, 2018

Yet Maggie, Kate, and Leah’s “whole deportment exhibited … frankness and sincerity …” Greeley found himself trusting these sisters.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock