reticence
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of reticence
First recorded in 1600–10; from French réticence, from Latin reticentia, equivalent to reticent-, stem of reticēns (present participle of reticēre “to be silent”) + -ia -y 3 ( def. ); see reticent ( def. )
Explanation
Reticence is a kind of reserve, wanting to avoid communication and not wanting to offer any more information than is necessary. Reticence is a noun originating from the Latin word reticent, meaning “remaining silent.” Someone charged with a crime might be instructed by their lawyer to show reticence when being questioned by police. As a child, reticence saved you from getting in trouble when mom asked who ate all the cookies from the jar.
Vocabulary lists containing reticence
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The Kite Runner
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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.
But all the more perplexing was Holmes’ reticence to admit guilt when caught with hands as red as her lipstick, talking herself in circles in pursuit of her truth.
From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2026
Honda's reticence in predicting any specific performance step from its engine suggests it has learnt the first lesson.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026
But Mills had to be dragged into running the first time, and that reticence showed in her campaigning ability.
From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026
“Market forces, including the drag from energy and local asset managers’ reticence to rotate to yen assets, favor a weaker JPY,” Keshvani says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 9, 2026
But there was a new reticence to Khanum Taheri’s demeanor.
From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
