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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
Jann Blackstone, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
Part of plant etiquette is to keep track of all your belongings, including edibles, and not litter the plant displays.
—Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Apr. 2026
What’s the appropriate armrest etiquette?
—Zach Schiffman, Curbed, 24 Apr. 2026
The service remains impeccable, blending etiquette with wit and personality.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
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 Apr. 2026.
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