decorous
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- decorously adverb
- decorousness noun
- nondecorous adjective
- nondecorously adverb
- nondecorousness noun
- undecorous adjective
- undecorously adverb
- undecorousness noun
Etymology
Origin of decorous
First recorded in 1655–65; from Latin decōrus “seemly, becoming,” derivative of decus (stem decor- ) “an ornament, splendor, honor,” akin to decēre “to be acceptable, be fitting” and docēre “to teach” (i.e., “to make fitting”) + adjective suffix -ōsus; decent, docent, -ous ( def. )
Explanation
Something that is decorous is dignified, proper, and in good taste, like your decorous great-aunt who always wears a dress — even when she's only headed to the grocery store. The adjective decorous shares its origins with decoration. Both words come from the Latin word decor, meaning "beauty, elegance, charm, grace, ornament." So, something decorous is attractive. Decorous can also mean "dignified or proper," like your decorous habit of saying, "How do you do?" when you meet someone for the first time.
Vocabulary lists containing decorous
Grade 12, List 2
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The Scarlet Letter
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"What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" by Frederick Douglass
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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.
Lee Martino’s choreography, like the production as a whole, is at its best when observing decorous constraints.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2026
Their work has been seen as reflecting their vastly different personas—Manet the dashing, witty, impetuous flâneur; Morisot the reserved, intelligent and exceedingly decorous bourgeoise—through the lens of their separate worlds.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 25, 2025
To make a point she moved "outside the usual decorous modes of conversation that civil servants use", he says.
From BBC • Dec. 29, 2023
It announced itself with such gratifying force — registering a 6.8 on the crunch Richter scale and drowning out all hope of decorous conversation with each handful I took up.
From Salon • Sep. 11, 2023
Jo couldn’t even lose her heart in a decorous manner, but sternly tried to quench her feelings, and failing to do so, led a somewhat agitated life.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
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.
