civility
noun
ci·vil·i·ty
sə-ˈvi-lə-tē 
plural civilities
1
a
: civilized conduct
b
: a polite act or expression
… lacked the little civilities and hypocrisies of political society …—
Roy Jenkins
Roy JenkinsThe men briefly exchanged civilities before the meeting began.
2
archaic
: training in the humanities
Examples of civility in a Sentence
They greeted each other with the usual exchange of civilities.
after the usual civilities, the parents and the principal had a serious talk about the boy
Recent Examples on the Web
Four candidates drawing attention are Harold Cogdell, Carrie Cook, Mike Evans and Robert Harrington, who emphasized affordability, infrastructure and restoring civility to council meetings.
—Charlotte Observer, 16 June 2026
Once word spread that the tents were the villas, any remaining civility evaporated.
—Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026
In her vast experience monitoring civility, Miss Manners has observed that high standards, although perhaps rare everywhere, are just as likely, or perhaps even more likely, to be found among the lower as among the upper brackets.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 9 June 2026
In 2016, voters were asked to choose between a populist candidate dogged by questions about his integrity, judgment, decency, civility, empathy, and respect for everyone from complete strangers to his own wife, and an overqualified, glass-ceiling-smashing woman.
—Shannon A. Mullen, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for civility
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Charlotte Observer, 16 June 2026
Once word spread that the tents were the villas, any remaining civility evaporated.
—Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026
In her vast experience monitoring civility, Miss Manners has observed that high standards, although perhaps rare everywhere, are just as likely, or perhaps even more likely, to be found among the lower as among the upper brackets.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 9 June 2026
In 2016, voters were asked to choose between a populist candidate dogged by questions about his integrity, judgment, decency, civility, empathy, and respect for everyone from complete strangers to his own wife, and an overqualified, glass-ceiling-smashing woman.
—Shannon A. Mullen, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for civility
Cite this Entry
“Civility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civility. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
civility
noun
ci·vil·i·ty
sə-ˈvil-ət-ē
plural civilities
1
: civilized conduct
especially
: courtesy sense 1, politeness
2
: a polite act or expression
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