propriety

[ pruh-prahy-i-tee ]

noun

, plural pro·pri·e·ties.

1. conformity to established standards of good or proper behavior or manners.

   Synonyms: modesty, decency

2. appropriateness to the purpose or circumstances; suitability.

   Synonyms: seemliness, aptness, fitness

3. rightness or justness.

   Synonyms: correctness

4. the proprieties, the conventional standards of proper behavior; manners:

   to observe the proprieties.

5. Obsolete. a property.
6. Obsolete. a peculiarity or characteristic of something.

propriety

/ prəˈpraɪətɪ /

noun

1. the quality or state of being appropriate or fitting
2. conformity to the prevailing standard of behaviour, speech, etc
3. the proprieties
   plural the standards of behaviour considered correct by polite society

Other Words From

• nonpro·prie·ty noun plural nonproprieties

Word History and Origins

Origin of propriety¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English propriete “ownership, something owned, one's own nature” (compare variant proprete property ), from Middle French propriété, from Latin proprietāt-, stem of proprietās “peculiarity, ownership,” equivalent to propri(us) proper + -etās, variant, after vowels, of -itās -ity

Word History and Origins

Origin of propriety¹

C15: from Old French propriété, from Latin proprietās a peculiarity, from proprius one's own

Synonym Study

See etiquette.

Example Sentences

The hilarity of people worrying about toy safety/propriety is timeless.

From Los Angeles Times

Ofwat will be required to set rules that ensure companies appoint directors and chief executives, and allow them to remain in post, only when they meet the highest standards of "fitness and propriety".

From BBC

"I want my government to set the highest standard of propriety and integrity," the SNP leader said.

From BBC

According to the Cabinet Office, the PCG is responsible for "ensuring the highest standards of propriety and ethics across all government departments", as well as "overseeing constitutional policy and providing advice to ministers".

From BBC

Miller’s glorious Lina, a woman who rejects bourgeois propriety as beneath her, is one of Shaw’s great comic creations.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• correctness
• decency
• decorum
• dignity
• modesty
• rectitude
• respectability