decent

[ dee-suhnt ]

adjective

1. conforming to the recognized standard of propriety, good taste, modesty, etc., as in behavior or speech.

   Synonyms: decorous, proper, seemly

   Antonyms: unseemly

2. respectable; worthy:

   a decent family.

3. adequate; fair; passable:

   a decent wage.

4. kind; obliging; generous:

   It was very decent of him to lend me his watch.

5. suitable; appropriate:

   She did not have a decent coat for the cold winter.

   Synonyms: becoming, fit, apt

   Antonyms: inappropriate

6. of fairly attractive appearance:

   a decent face.

7. Informal. wearing enough clothing to appear in public.
8. Slang. great; wonderful.

decent

/ ˈdiːsənt /

adjective

1. polite or respectable

   a decent family

2. proper and suitable; fitting

   a decent burial

3. conforming to conventions of sexual behaviour; not indecent
4. free of oaths, blasphemy, etc

   decent language

5. good or adequate

   a decent wage

6. informal.
   kind; generous

   he was pretty decent to me

7. informal.
   sufficiently clothed to be seen by other people

   are you decent?

Derived Forms

• ˈdecently, adverb
• ˈdecentness, noun

Other Words From

• decent·ly adverb
• decent·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of decent¹

First recorded in 1485–95; from Latin decent-, stem of decēns “fitting,” present participle of decēre “to be acceptable, be fitting”; akin to decus “honor” ( decorous )

Word History and Origins

Origin of decent¹

C16: from Latin decēns suitable, from decēre to be fitting

Example Sentences

One rice cake lover suggested to the Chicago Tribune that rice cakes topped with beans were better than tacos, a statement that suggests that person had never had a decent taco.

From Eater

Any person who can still support this man is not a decent human being, period.

From Washington Blade

Only after the migrants settled and had years to claw back a decent life did some towns bounce back stronger.

From ProPublica

In a series where Miami was comfortable letting anyone other than Giannis do that, it would have mattered a decent amount, I’d think.

From FiveThirtyEight

The 11-megapixel shooter is decent enough for selfies, but taking a regular picture requires folding the Surface Duo with both screens facing out, and correctly pointing the side with the camera at the desired subject.

From Fortune

Almost everyone there will be a decent person and treat you well.

From The Daily Beast

She assured me he was a decent human being and the love of her life.

From The Daily Beast

I vividly recall, that day and the weeks afterward, people groping for a decent way forward.

From The Daily Beast

I finish a decent game, type my initials, and decide to call it quits.

From The Daily Beast

The problem is that being a decent person in an indecent situation is not enough, even though it may also be all you can do.

From The Daily Beast

If I could catch Laura's eye—but I suppose it would hardly be decent to go just yet.

From Project Gutenberg

Both had appealed to Napoleon; consequently there was a decent pretext for sending a French army into Spain.

From Project Gutenberg

Good place to lop about, y' know; a decent place to sit, and a few books and cards and that sort of thing.

From Project Gutenberg

Never smoke when the pores are open: they absorb, and you are unfit for decent society.

From Project Gutenberg

For at least ten years previous to 1901, San Francisco had enjoyed a period of not only decent but honorable government.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• acceptable
• adequate
• comfortable
• competent
• fair
• good
• mediocre
• reasonable
• respectable
• satisfactory

Decent Vs. Descent

What’s the difference between decent and descent?

Decent is an adjective that means adequate or suitable, as in a decent meal, or good or respectable, as in a decent person. Descent is a noun that means the act of moving downward (descending), a downward movement, or downward movement in general.

Despite their similar spelling, the two words are pronounced differently. In decent, the emphasis is on the first part of the word, which is pronounced like dee. In descent, the emphasis is on the -scent part of the word, with the first part pronounced like dih.

So how can you remember which one gets the s? Dropping the s is the decent thing to do, but you should pick it back up for your descent.

Here’s an example of descent and dissent used correctly in a sentence.

Example: The climbers decided to make the descent while the weather was still decent.

Quiz yourself on decent vs. descent!

Should decent or descent be used in the following sentence?

The plane’s rapid _____ was caused by a faulty engine.