decency
Americannoun
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the state or quality of being decent.
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conformity to the recognized standard of propriety, good taste, modesty, etc.
- Synonyms:
- gentility, respectability, decorum
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decencies,
noun
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conformity to the prevailing standards of propriety, morality, modesty, etc
-
the quality of being decent
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of decency
1560–70; < Latin decentia comeliness, decency, equivalent to decent- (stem of decēns ) fitting ( see decent) + -ia noun suffix
Explanation
The personal quality of decency is one of honesty, good manners, and respect for other people. Over time, decency has referred to manners, but today decency is mainly a strong sense of right and wrong, and a high standard of honesty. When a criminal or dictator does horrible things, people assume they have no sense of decency. When a tasteless or violent TV show becomes popular, some people wonder if society has lost its sense of decency. Asking "Have you no decency?" is a serious question, unless you're being silly and complaining about something like homework.
Vocabulary lists containing decency
Michelle Obama's Speech at the 2016 DNC
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"Ad Power," "Without Commercials," and "What's Wrong with Advertising"
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My Brother Sam is Dead
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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 soft-spoken Talarico's message of returning to decency, fighting corruption and ending divisive culture wars has resonated across the second-most populous state and economic powerhouse.
From Barron's • Jun. 13, 2026
The premise remains the same: Surround one real person with actors, build an entire world around them, and hope they respond with decency.
From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2026
He said he would not speculate on Sir Keir's future, and that despite any "disagreements" between them the prime minister had "many remarkable qualities" and was "someone of enormous decency".
From BBC • May 16, 2026
It made him aware of “the fragility of civilized life” and inspired “gratitude for the decency and work ethic of the police.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026
Absent an apology, he said, “common decency is thrown to the wayside.”
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
Definitions 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.
