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

Ministers will not be banned from accepting gifts but the ministerial code has been updated to require them to consider the "need to maintain the public's confidence in the standards of propriety" when deciding whether to do so.

From BBC

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

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

From Los Angeles Times

Ms Gray joined the civil service straight from school and worked her way up to the Cabinet Office where, for six years, she led the government's Propriety and Ethics team, which provides advice to departments on standards issues.

From BBC

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

Related Words

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