decency

C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˈdisənsi/ UK /ˈdiːsənsi/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
behavior that conforms to accepted standards of morality and propriety

He had the decency to apologize in person.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · behavior that conforms to... propriety decorum modesty respectability seemliness civility correctness virtue

Opposites

indecency impropriety vulgarity obscenity

Word family

Related forms decent decently decorous

Etymology

From Latin decentia ('comeliness, propriety'), from decens (stem decent-), present participle of decēre ('to be fitting, become'), from a PIE root *dek- ('to take, accept, be suitable').

decentia Latin decēre Latin *dek- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# decency

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈdisənsi/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈdiːsənsi/

## Meanings
1. behavior that conforms to accepted standards of morality and propriety

## Examples
- He had the decency to apologize in person.

## Synonyms
- propriety
- decorum
- modesty
- respectability
- seemliness
- civility
- correctness
- virtue

## Antonyms
- indecency
- impropriety
- vulgarity
- obscenity

## Related Forms
- decent
- decently
- decorous

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: decentia
- Root: decēre
- Root: *dek-

## Etymology
From Latin decentia ('comeliness, propriety'), from decens (stem decent-), present participle of decēre ('to be fitting, become'), from a PIE root *dek- ('to take, accept, be suitable').

## AI Etymology
Decency comes from Latin decentia ('comeliness, propriety'), from decens (stem decent-), present participle of decēre ('to be fitting, become'), from a PIE root *dek- ('to take, accept, be suitable'). The historical trail runs through Latin decentia, Latin decēre and Proto-Indo-European *dek-. In modern use it means behavior that conforms to accepted standards of morality and propriety. Related forms include decent, decently, decorous.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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