etiquette

[ et-i-kit, -ket ]

noun

1. conventional requirements as to social behavior; proprieties of conduct as established in any class or community or for any occasion.
2. a prescribed or accepted code of usage in matters of ceremony, as at a court or in official or other formal observances.
3. the code of ethical behavior regarding professional practice or action among the members of a profession in their dealings with each other:

   medical etiquette.

etiquette

/ ˈɛtɪˌkɛt; ˌɛtɪˈkɛt /

noun

1. the customs or rules governing behaviour regarded as correct or acceptable in social or official life
2. a conventional but unwritten code of practice followed by members of any of certain professions or groups

   medical etiquette

Word History and Origins

Origin of etiquette¹

First recorded in 1730–40; from French étiquette, Middle French estiquette “ticket, label, memorandum,” derivative of estiqu(i)er “to attach, stick” from Germanic. See stick ², -ette

Word History and Origins

Origin of etiquette¹

C18: from French, from Old French estiquette label, from estiquier to attach; see stick ²

Synonym Study

Etiquette, decorum, propriety imply observance of the formal requirements governing behavior in polite society. Etiquette refers to conventional forms and usages: the rules of etiquette. Decorum suggests dignity and a sense of what is becoming or appropriate for a person of good breeding: a fine sense of decorum. Propriety (usually plural) implies established conventions of morals and good taste: She never fails to observe the proprieties.

Example Sentences

In a 2018 race infamous for its atrocious weather, Stocks remembers shunning social etiquette.

From BBC

“Especially for Native communities where we’re very unique, knowing the etiquette and the protocols … sometimes past campaigns have sort of misstepped,” Lewis said.

From Los Angeles Times

“The team had style on the pitch,” Fernandez, who remembers Arteta as a player with “good etiquette and behaviour”, told The Athletic last year.

From BBC

I didn’t grow up with etiquette around those things.”

From Los Angeles Times

According to the royal historian, it boils down to another failure to follow etiquette.

From BBC