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

• form
• manner
• mores
• proprieties

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

That includes extended relatives, neighbors, or even your favorite waitress at your local diner in the month of December, Myka Meier, etiquette expert, shared with USA TODAY last year. —Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 1 Dec. 2024

Newsweek asked some of America's top etiquette experts: What is the biggest faux pas a Thanksgiving guest can commit? —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024

The topic of theater etiquette recently made headlines after an AMC Theaters preshow advisory video raised the issue of audience behavior. —Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 28 Nov. 2024

Experience the elegance of a traditional Victorian afternoon tea with samplings, etiquette lessons, and a mansion tour. —Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1737, in the meaning defined above

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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