decency

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.

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

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Topics

Ethics & Social Judgment Word Formation & Derivatives

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# 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
- Ethics & Social Judgment
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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decency

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