etiquette

American  

[et-i-kit, -ket] / ˈɛt ɪ kɪt, -ˌkɛt /

noun

1. conventional requirements as to social behavior; proprieties of conduct as established in any class or community or for any occasion.

2. a prescribed or accepted code of usage in matters of ceremony, as at a court or in official or other formal observances.

3. the code of ethical behavior regarding professional practice or action among the members of a profession in their dealings with each other.

   medical etiquette.

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etiquette British  

/ ˈɛtɪˌkɛt, ˌɛtɪˈkɛt /

noun

1. the customs or rules governing behaviour regarded as correct or acceptable in social or official life

2. a conventional but unwritten code of practice followed by members of any of certain professions or groups

   medical etiquette

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Related Words

Etiquette, decorum, propriety imply observance of the formal requirements governing behavior in polite society. Etiquette refers to conventional forms and usages: the rules of etiquette. Decorum suggests dignity and a sense of what is becoming or appropriate for a person of good breeding: a fine sense of decorum. Propriety (usually plural) implies established conventions of morals and good taste: She never fails to observe the proprieties.

Etymology

Origin of etiquette

First recorded in 1730–40; from French étiquette, Middle French estiquette “ticket, label, memorandum,” derivative of estiqu(i)er “to attach, stick” from Germanic. See stick ², -ette

Example Sentences

Mr. Waltz’s character essentially takes the place of Van Helsing, a vampire hunter who serves up lore, etiquette and preferred killing techniques for anyone in the audience unfamiliar with the ways of the monster.

From The Wall Street Journal

For the first time in my life, the staunch theater etiquette advocate in me could not care less.

From Salon

Sam Lessin, a general partner at investment firm Slow Ventures, recently wrote an etiquette book targeting young tech founders.

From The Wall Street Journal

Her actions drew rebukes from tennis greats Martina Navratilova and Lindsay Davenport, who said she had failed to keep to "basic etiquette" in not making noises between an opponent's serve.

From Barron's

Tennis greats Martina Navratilova and Lindsay Davenport took Naomi Osaka to task on Friday, saying she had failed to keep to "basic etiquette" after her Australian Open flashpoint.

From Barron's