incivility

American  

[in-suh-vil-i-tee] / ˌɪn səˈvɪl ɪ ti /

noun

• incivilities
  plural

1. the quality or condition of being uncivil; discourteous behavior or treatment.

   Synonyms:

   uncouthness, boorishness, rudeness

2. an uncivil act.

   Synonyms:

   discourtesy

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incivility British  

/ ɪnsɪˈvɪlɪtɪ /

noun

1. lack of civility or courtesy; rudeness

2. an impolite or uncivil act or remark

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• incivil
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• incivilities
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of incivility

From the Late Latin word incīvīlitās, dating back to 1575–85. See in- ³, civility

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Explanation

Incivility is rudeness or disrespect. A child will probably be scolded for his incivility if he sits with his elbows planted on the dinner table, talking loudly with his mouth full of food. If you insult your friends, push in front of people standing in line for a movie, or in other ways demonstrate bad manners, your incivility is obvious. Etiquette is all about eliminating incivility, teaching people the best way to behave. This noun dates from the 16th century, first meaning "want of civilized behavior," from a Latin root: incivilis, "not civil," with the root civilis, "befitting a citizen."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

incivility incivilities

As a preliminary matter, the Court finds it necessary to admonish Plaintiff’s counsel for their unprofessionalism and incivility.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

In the letter terminating Pelley's contract on Tuesday, Bilton accused him of hijacking the staff meeting to disparage Bilton, his qualificatons and intentions with "remarkable incivility and contempt".

From BBC ● Jun. 3, 2026

Newly appointed "60 Minutes" executive producer Nick Bilton said Pelley "hijacked my first meeting with staff to disparage me, my qualifications, and my intentions with remarkable incivility and contempt."

From Barron's ● Jun. 3, 2026

Despite the city's reputation for incivility, it takes a lot to push New Yorkers to outright rejection.

From Salon ● Feb. 29, 2024

“That proves you must have been an honest and faithful servant. I will say so much for you, though you have had the incivility to call me a beggar.”

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

We are starting to realize that the bystander effect — seeing something but saying nothing when we witness incivilities or worse — is as dangerous as the attacks themselves.

From New York Times ● Mar. 10, 2022

Her poem is double-distilled, and composed as if from ice shavings and incivilities.

From New York Times ● Dec. 14, 2020

Inhabitants of big U.S. cities are also assaulted by what Fred DuBow, a visiting scholar at the American Bar Foundation, calls "incivilities."

From Time Magazine Archive

I.—Natural and Civil Rights Among the incivilities by which nations or individuals provoke or irritate each other, Mr. Burke's pamphlet in the French revolution is an extraordinary instance.

From The World's Greatest Books — Volume 14 — Philosophy and Economics by Sir John Alexander Hammerton

It is astonishing how soon the ear becomes used to incivilities.

From The Bertrams by Anthony Trollope

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