decorum

noun

de·co·rum | \ di-ˈkȯr-əm

Definition of decorum

1 : literary and dramatic propriety : fitness according to strict neoclassic decorum only the aristocracy had the right to appear in tragedy —Irving Babbitt

2 : propriety and good taste in conduct or appearance strict in her notions of decorum —Jane Austen

3 : orderliness the organization's decorum has rarely been shaken —W. F. Longgood

4 decorums plural : the conventions of polite behavior the established sobrieties and decorums of English life —H. G. Wells

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about decorum

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Synonyms & Antonyms for decorum

Synonyms

decency, form, propriety

Antonyms

impropriety, indecency, indecorum

Examples of decorum in a Sentence

He has no sense of decorum. high standards of decorum are usually required when attending the opera

Recent Examples on the Web

There are still plenty of folks who once lived in a time of decorum when women wore hats and gloves when out and people communicated by writing letters. — Jennifer Winward, Anchorage Daily News, "Five old-school skills that kids should learn from their grandparents instead of YouTube," 26 June 2018 From the get-go, there was a parallel world of decorum bordering on formality, as seen in Chase's paintings of women walking across the dunes in long white dresses and men sporting straw boaters and bowties. — Steven Stolman, Town & Country, "High Society Photographer Bert Morgan Chronicled the Hamptons' Smart Set Before Everything Changed," 13 June 2018 More important is the AfD’s willingness to bend or even break unofficial rules of decorum. — Griff Witte, Washington Post, "The far right is back in the German parliament, bringing taunts, insults and laughter," 8 June 2018 Still, this is the way of baseball, a sport that frustratingly conducts itself at times with the solemnity and forced decorum of a Senate subcommittee hearing. — Jon Tayler, SI.com, "Twins Mad at Orioles' Chance Sisco Over Ninth-Inning Bunt in Dumb Unwritten Rules Flap," 2 Apr. 2018 Mexican muralism banished tasteful public decorum for blunt social agitation, essential to its Great Depression era. — Christopher Knight, latimes.com, "'Made in L.A. 2018': Why the Hammer biennial is the right show for disturbing times," 5 June 2018 Both groups saw shoppers and museumgoers as bodies to be regulated by protocols of decorum when occupying these spaces. — Courtney Coffman, The Atlantic, "Shops Aren’t for Shopping Anymore," 19 June 2018 Inviting a female acquaintance to his cottage, Redfyre worries about decorum. — Marilyn Stasio, New York Times, "Missing Bodies, Missing Killers, Deadly Missed Opportunities," 25 May 2018 To underline his common touch, Mr. Kurz flies economy on state business and walks to work, a novelty in Austria, an affluent nation fond of hierarchy and decorum. — Bojan Pancevski, WSJ, "Austrian Leader’s Blueprint for Europe’s Establishment: Move to the Right," 25 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'decorum.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.