civility

ci·vil·i·ty

noun \sə-ˈvi-lə-tē\

plural ci·vil·i·ties

Definition of CIVILITY

1

archaic : training in the humanities

2

a : civilized conduct; especially : courtesy, politeness b : a polite act or expression

Examples of CIVILITY

1. They greeted each other with the usual exchange of civilities.
2. <after the usual civilities, the parents and the principal had a serious talk about the boy>

First Known Use of CIVILITY

1533

Related to CIVILITY

Synonyms: amenity, attention, courtesy, formality, gesture, pleasantry, politeness

Antonyms: discourteousness, discourtesy, impoliteness, incivility, rudeness, surliness, ungraciousness

Related Words: honors; ceremony, observance, rite, ritual; decorum, etiquette, form, manners, mores, proprieties; addresses, devoirs, greetings, regards, respects; favor, grace, kindliness, kindness; protocol, rules

Near Antonyms: audaciousness, audacity, boldness, brashness, brassiness, disrespect, impertinence, impudence, insolence, sauciness, shamelessness; boorishness, churlishness, clownishness, loutishness, vulgarity; casualness, informality; delinquency, improperness, impropriety, inappropriateness, incorrectness, indecency; inconsiderateness, inconsideration, thoughtlessness; arrogance, conceit, presumption, pretentiousness

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Rhymes with CIVILITY

ability, agility, anility, debility, docility, ductility, facility, fertility, fragility, futility, gentility, gracility, hostility, humility, lability, mobility, motility, nobility, nubility, scurrility, sectility, servility, stability, sterility, suability, tactility, utility, vagility, virility