propriety

American  

[pruh-prahy-i-tee] / prəˈpraɪ ɪ ti /

noun

plural

proprieties

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, fitness, aptness

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.

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propriety British  

/ prəˈpraɪətɪ /

noun

1. the quality or state of being appropriate or fitting

2. conformity to the prevailing standard of behaviour, speech, etc

3. (plural) the standards of behaviour considered correct by polite society

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Related Words

See etiquette.

Other Word Forms

• nonpropriety noun

Etymology

Origin of propriety

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

Explanation

Propriety is following what is socially acceptable in speech and behavior. Your little brother might offend your sense of propriety by burping loudly at the dinner table. Propriety is like the noun form of "proper" and "appropriate." It comes from the same root as the word property, in the sense of "a distinctive character or quality." The opposite of propriety is impropriety, meaning "rude or inappropriate." If you're someone who is overly concerned with propriety, your friends beg you to loosen up now and then.

Example Sentences

For the sake of propriety — Paley was one of the 20th century’s most powerful media paschas — his indiscretions were kept quiet.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

Reform MP James McMurdock has lost the whip over allegations against him related to business propriety, the party says.

From BBC • Jul. 5, 2025

The other side of the detective’s profile has him strolling between the starched propriety of upper-class society and the sooty underbelly, doing rich men’s dirty work.

From Salon • Apr. 16, 2025

And once that line of propriety has been moved, there’s no nudging it back.

From Slate • Dec. 11, 2024

Croteau dithered about the propriety of dating a customer, but when he finally responded, they talked on the phone from ten at night until five in the morning.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times

Related Words

• correctness
• decorum
• legitimacy
• morality
• rectitude
• respectability
• suitability