dignity

noun

dig·​ni·​ty ˈdig-nə-tē How to pronounce dignity (audio)
plural dignities
1
: formal reserve or seriousness of manner, appearance, or language
2
: the quality or state of being worthy, honored, or esteemed
3
a
: high rank, office, or position
b
: a legal title of nobility or honor
4
archaic : dignitary

Examples of dignity in a Sentence

Jenny Daggers links feminist critiques and interreligious dialogue, arguing that our failure to treat people of other traditions with dignity matches in deed and rhetoric our inability to see that women are full and equal members of the community. Francis X. Clooney, Commonweal, 11 Sept. 2009
When King spoke about the racist past, he gloried in black people beating the odds to win equal rights by arming "ourselves with dignity and self-respect." Juan Williams, Wall Street Journal, 4 Apr. 2008
The period just after the Revolutionary War (1780-1820) was a time to project hard-won dignity, not show off. Federal interiors featured muted wall colors … and delicately carved or inlaid decoration. Kelly Beamon, This Old House, March 2008
Roger was beaming. His creased fat face literally shone with pleasure, which, for the sake of dignity, he struggled to contain. Alice Adams, The Story and Its Writer, 1987
Every speaker tries to create a love affair with his or her audience. But when the phenomenon called Maya Angelou takes the lectern at Pensacola (Florida) Junior College, she does not so much speak to the audience as "embrace" it. She sings, reads verse, thunders oratorically, even dances. Standing a majestic six feet tall and gifted with a resonant voice and … dignity, she is a poet, preacher, performer extraordinaire. Cheryl McCall, People, 8 Mar. 1982
She showed dignity in defeat. The ceremony was conducted with great dignity. Theirs is a country that cherishes freedom and human dignity.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
We must be reminded of the meaning and importance of human dignity, freedom and equality in each generation, especially as those ideals are expressed in the Declaration of Independence. Hans Zeiger, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 July 2025 Somehow Harold had found out, and come to sit with me, and out of respect for my dignity had never mentioned it afterward. Nicole Krauss, The Atlantic, 6 July 2025 Our Founders understood that religious liberty and free speech do not come from government, but from God -- and are anchored securely in our dignity as humans. Kristen Waggoner, National Review, 5 July 2025 Newcomers in this country should be treated with welcoming dignity and respect, as Mayor Adams and New York City did with the Roosevelt Hotel, which has just closed as the main arrival center for migrants. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 3 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for dignity

Word History

Etymology

Middle English dignete, from Anglo-French digneté, from Latin dignitat-, dignitas, from dignus

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of dignity was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dignity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dignity. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

dignity

noun
dig·​ni·​ty ˈdig-nət-ē How to pronounce dignity (audio)
plural dignities
1
: the quality or state of being worthy, honored, or respected
2
: high rank, office, or position
3
: a look or way of behaving that suggests seriousness and self-control

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