decorous

adjective

dec·​o·​rous ˈde-kər-əs How to pronounce decorous (audio)
 also  di-ˈkȯr-əs
: marked by propriety and good taste : correct
decorous conduct
Ever decorous, she periodically excuses herself to another room rather than allow a guest to witness her blowing her nose.Will Hermes
decorously adverb
decorousness noun

Did you know?

Decorous Got Its Start With Etiquette

One of the earliest recorded uses of decorous appears in a book titled The Rules of Civility (1673): “It is not decorous to look in the Glass, to comb, brush, or do any thing of that nature to ourselves, whilst the said person be in the Room.” This rule of thumb may be a bit outdated; like many behaviors once deemed unbecoming, public primping is unlikely to offend in modern times. Though mores shift, decorous lives on to describe timeless courtesies like polite speech, proper attire, and (ahem) covering one’s cough.

Examples of decorous in a Sentence

we were asked to be on our most decorous behavior at the formal event the oppressively decorous standards of a royal court
Recent Examples on the Web At the time, this decorous attire was standard at bowling alleys, where women often wore dresses or skirts. Gabe Bullard, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 July 2024 Compared to these scenes, the contemporary killer gams is downright decorous, even if the showstopping slit required to enable it in the dress Ferguson wears in Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation isn’t. Alison Willmore, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2024 The politesse of reassurance may be desirable and decorous, but U.S. allies are not about to abandon their patron. Robert E. Kelly, Foreign Affairs, 22 Feb. 2022 Among the criers were some of the least decorous people in the country. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 13 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for decorous 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'decorous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin decorus, from decor beauty, grace; akin to Latin decēre to be fitting — more at decent

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of decorous was in 1653

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Dictionary Entries Near decorous

Cite this Entry

“Decorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decorous. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

decorous

adjective
dec·​o·​rous ˈdek-ə-rəs How to pronounce decorous (audio)
 also  di-ˈkōr-əs,
-ˈkȯr-
: noticeable for proper behavior and good taste : correct
decorous conduct
decorously adverb
decorousness noun

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