manners

British  

/ ˈmænəz /

plural noun

1. social conduct

   he has the manners of a pig

2. a socially acceptable way of behaving

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Explanation

Manners are the proper or polite way to behave in public. If you take the chewing gum out of your mouth and stick it behind your ear before a meal, you need to work on your manners. You can also call manners "etiquette." It shows good manners when you hold doors open for other people, say "please" and "thank you," and refrain from burping in public. Manners vary between different cultures: you're displaying good manners if you slurp your noodles in Japan, though it's bad manners in the U.S. And in some Middle Eastern countries, burping after a meal is actually a sign of excellent manners.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

manners

"She could never believe how Freddie had such beautiful manners and he was always so deferential and polite and how his trousers were always immaculately creased," he said.

From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026

"Good manners is really important in business, especially for longevity," he reflects.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

They employ all manners of external stimuli and self-optimization techniques to approach even a fraction of what your heart is naturally capable of.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

Twenty years ago, founders proudly eschewed fashion and decorum, too busy writing code and devising a new world order to bother with pleasantries, like basic manners and French cuffs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026

Laurie opened his mouth to ask another question, but remembering just in time that it wasn’t manners to make too many inquiries into people’s affairs, he shut it again, and looked uncomfortable.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott