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decency

American  
[dee-suhn-see] / ˈdi sən si /

noun

plural

decencies

  1. the state or quality of being decent.

  2. conformity to the recognized standard of propriety, good taste, modesty, etc.

    Synonyms:
    gentility, respectability, decorum

  3. decencies,

    1. the recognized standards of decent or proper behavior; proprieties.

      The least you can expect from them is some respect for the decencies.

    2. the requirements or amenities for decent or comfortable living.

      to be able to afford the decencies.
decency British  
/ ˈdiːsənsɪ /

noun

  1. conformity to the prevailing standards of propriety, morality, modesty, etc

  2. the quality of being decent

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of decency

1560–70; < Latin decentia comeliness, decency, equivalent to decent- (stem of decēns ) fitting ( decent ) + -ia noun suffix

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.

A: Ruth symbolizes what she herself expressed: decency.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

Yet Leo found—his son tells us with eloquent understatement—that “some Germans managed to remain decent, when decency could be very dangerous.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

American politics has always produced figures eager to test the boundaries of decency.

From Salon • Mar. 12, 2026

"She was interested in the world around her and made the most of life. There was a depth to her, she led her life with decency and integrity," Susan Everard wrote.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2026

Survival wasn’t nearly as hard as he’d thought once he left decency behind.

From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo

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.