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

---

incivility British  

/ ɪnsɪˈvɪlɪtɪ /

noun

1. lack of civility or courtesy; rudeness

2. an impolite or uncivil act or remark

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• incivil
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• incivilities
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of incivility

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

---

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

Being polite has been replaced by the incivility of narcissism—people who worry only about themselves.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 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

Cofidis said a police investigation was under way and that they "strongly condemn this act of incivility," while also calling on the "perpetrators to act with civility and responsibility".

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2025

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

From Salon ● Feb. 29, 2024

She looked up at me, her eyes large with compassion, with understanding of the solitude and incivility of grief.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

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

Social occasions irritated him, several times he had come near to gross incivilities, art annoyed him, sport was an effort, wholesome perhaps, but unattractive, music he loved, but it excited him.

From The Research Magnificent by H. G. (Herbert George) Wells

It seems to me that the officials ought to specially and urgently request the public to report unworded affronts and incivilities.'

From The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg and Other Stories by Mark Twain

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---