etiquette

noun

et·​i·​quette ˈe-ti-kət 

-ˌket

: the conduct or procedure required by good breeding or prescribed by authority to be observed in social or official life

Did you know?

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.

Synonyms of etiquette

• manner

Examples of etiquette in a Sentence

Her failure to respond to the invitation was a serious breach of etiquette.

the couple exhibited poor etiquette when they left the party without saying good-bye to the host and hostess

Recent Examples on the Web

While the behavior was distracting, Osaka hopes that bringing tennis to a new audience overall will benefit the sport, as long as new fans learn the rules and etiquette of spectating. — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026

The episode went viral and prompted debate about the growing presence of content creators at sporting events — and whether newcomers are being adequately schooled in tennis’ distinct etiquette. — Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Like it or not, there are a few stringent matters of etiquette unique to the game that, as Osaka noted earlier, need to be respected. — Corey Seymour, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026

Still, the distinction between basic etiquette and what might be considered showboating or taunting can shift from week to week and tournament to tournament, depending on the locale. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French étiquette, literally, ticket — more at ticket entry 1

First Known Use

1737, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

etiquette

noun

et·​i·​quette ˈet-i-kət 

-ˌket

: the rules governing the proper way to behave

Etymology

from French étiquette "etiquette," literally, "ticket," from earlier etiquet "ticket" — related to ticket