manners
Britishplural noun
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social conduct
he has the manners of a pig
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a socially acceptable way of behaving
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It’s an oasis for arts, tasteful wealth, and Southern manners in one of the reddest parts of the country.
From Slate • May 4, 2026
"I had girlish manners, a girlish voice," he would later say.
From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026
He calls himself an AI optimist, citing numerous studies showing that artificial intelligence can help doctors treat patients more effectively and even to improve their bedside manners.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026
That small and privileged group—limited to 12 members—excused his abominable manners and believed in his talent.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026
Despite her shaking knees Penelope managed a curtsy, for she knew that good manners always went a long way toward easing a tense situation.
From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood
Definitions 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.
