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

This would normally be breach of concert etiquette, or a reason to break out the Narcan nasal spray. —Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Apr. 2024

And all of us should do our part to practice good appointment etiquette: Show up on time (or early, if that’s requested), and confirm during check-in how much time you’re scheduled for. —Rachel Wilkerson Miller, SELF, 3 Apr. 2024

The nearly four-month-long program includes five dedicated weeks of service training, including etiquette, grooming, meal preparation, and more. —Chris Dong, Travel + Leisure, 25 Mar. 2024

Although workers in all stages of their careers can benefit from a workplace etiquette refresher, such training is especially important for Gen Z employees who are just starting out their careers, Chertoff said. —Joshua Girsky, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024

His way out of this etiquette conundrum: exposing his testicles to repulse the club’s irate owner. —Boris Kachka, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024

Myka Meier, who runs the U.S.-based firm Beaumont Etiquette, recently told Business Insider that her etiquette classes—which cost upward of $2,500 for corporate group sessions—have experienced a surge in interest. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 21 Mar. 2024

References to Goat Alley and domestic-violence etiquette were cut. —Dan Barry, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024

But having noise making devices at hand 24/7 has certainly made this brand of etiquette breach more common. —Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 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