definitions

nicety

[ nahy-si-tee ]
/ ˈnaɪ sɪ ti /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR nicety ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural ni·ce·ties.

a delicate or fine point; punctilio: niceties of protocol.
a fine distinction; subtlety; detail: the niceties of the filigree work.
Usually niceties. a refined, elegant, or choice feature, as of manner or living: working hard to acquire the niceties of life.
exactness or precision.
the quality of being nice; niceness.
delicacy of character, as of something requiring care or tact: a matter of considerable nicety.

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RELATED WORDS

refinement, subtlety, rigor, nuance, meticulousness, detail, precision, shade, exactness

Nearby words

nicene, nicene council, nicene creed, niceno-constantinopolitan creed, nicetas, nicety, nicey-nicey, niche, niche market, nichiren, nichiren buddhism

Origin of nicety

1275–1325; Middle English: silliness, extravagance, cleverness < Old French niceté. See nice, -ty2

Related forms

o·ver·ni·ce·ty, noun, plural o·ver·ni·ce·ties.

Can be confused

nice niceness nicety
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for nicety

British Dictionary definitions for nicety

nicety

/ (ˈnaɪsɪtɪ) /

noun plural -ties

a subtle point of delicacy or distinctiona nicety of etiquette
(usually plural) a refinement or delicacythe niceties of first-class travel
subtlety, delicacy, or precision
excessive refinement; fastidiousness
to a nicety with precision
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012