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If you’re looking for a polite topic of conversation to raise at your next gathering of word lovers, we’ve got just the ticket. The French word étiquette means “ticket”; its direct French ancestor also referred to a label attached to something for description or identification. Spaniards of the 16th-century adopted the French word (altering it to etiqueta), and used it to refer to the written protocols describing the behavior demanded of those who appeared at court. Eventually, etiqueta came to be applied to the court ceremonies themselves as well as to the documents which outlined their requirements. Word of this linguistic development got back to the French, who then expanded their word’s meaning to include “proper court behavior” along with its “label” sense. By the middle of the 18th century English speakers had taken on etiquette as their own, applying it to the rules that indicate the proper and polite way to behave, whether in the presence or royalty or not.
Examples of etiquette in a Sentence
Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 May 2025
Say Yes to the Dress, studying etiquette columns about bridal party issues and combing through social media posts of canines in floral crowns, choreographed bridal party entrances and trendy donut walls.
—Lian Dolan, People.com, 20 May 2025
Professional golfers are known for their etiquette as the sport is known as the gentleman's game.
—Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 May 2025
As weight-loss drugs soar in popularity, diners on and off them are wrestling with a number of restaurant etiquette quandaries, and in some cases changing their dining habits as a result.
—Alyson Krueger, New York Times, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for etiquette
Cite this Entry
“Etiquette.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/etiquette. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
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