Meaning

The quality of being decent; propriety..

Definitions by Sense

1. The quality of being decent; propriety.
2. That which is proper or becoming.

Example Sentences

Immodest words admit of no defence, / For want of decency is want of sense.

Indeed it is for the moſt part in our ſkill in manners, and in the obſervances of time and place, and of decency in general, which is only to be learned in thoſe ſchools to which Horace recommends us, that what is called Taſte by way of diſtinction, conſiſts; and which is in reality no other than a more refined judgment.

[To Joseph McCarthy:] Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?

Now, what is interesting about that poem is nothing. But, what is relevant about it is that his muse is his wife, Marcela, who is 42 years younger than him. He is 75, she is 33. And I’ll say this, at least when 70-something American politicians get creepily handsy with 30-something women, they have the decency to do so with their own daughters. Have some class, Brazil! Have some class!

Those thousand decencies, that daily flow / From all her words and actions.

'Tis in the Civil Government, as in the Offices of Religion; which, were they ſtript of all the External Decencies of Worſhip, would not make a due Impreſſion on the Minds of thoſe who aſſiſt at them.

Word Forms

• decencies

Synonyms for decency

Antonyms for decency

Related Words

When Should You Use Decency?

Use decency when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

Practice This Word

Frequently Asked Questions