nicety

noun

nice·​ty ˈnī-sə-tē 

-stē

plural niceties

1

: the quality or state of being nice

2

: an elegant, delicate, or civilized feature

enjoy the niceties of life

3

: a fine point or distinction : subtlety

the niceties of table manners

4

: careful attention to details : delicate exactness : precision

5

: delicacy of taste or feeling : fastidiousness

see also:

to a nicety

Synonyms of nicety

• fact
• detail

Examples of nicety in a Sentence

knows all the niceties of diplomatic protocol

a woman too fond of the niceties of urban living to even consider becoming a farmer's wife

Recent Examples on the Web

Participatory governance should be a prerequisite rather than a nicety. — Jessica Vitiritti, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026

The military used to understand that troops’ well-being was central to their ability to perform—and that improving the quality of life for those in the armed forces was not just a nicety, but a necessity. — Andrea N. Goldstein, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026

His public utterances will brim with courtly niceties, and with legal and ecclesiastical arcana. — Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026

That last item points to Trump’s disregard for the niceties of government procedure. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English nicete, from Anglo-French niceté foolishness, from nice, adjective

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing nicety

• to a nicety

Kids Definition

nicety

noun

nice·​ty ˈnī-sət-ē 

-stē

plural niceties

1

: a dainty, delicate, or elegant thing

enjoy the niceties of life

2

: a small point or detail

niceties of table manners

3

: careful attention to details

nicety is needed in making watches

4

: the point at which a thing is at its best

roasted to a nicety