- conformity to the prevailing standards of propriety, morality, modesty, etc
- the quality of being decent
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
de•cen•cy /ˈdisənsi/USA pronunciation
n., pl. -cies.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- the state or quality of being decent:[uncountable]At least have the decency to apologize.
- decencies, [plural] standards of proper and acceptable behavior;
proprieties:has the decencies expected in modern society.
de•cen•cy
(dē′sən sē),USA pronunciation n., pl. -cies.
- the state or quality of being decent.
- conformity to the recognized standard of propriety, good taste, modesty, etc.
- decencies:
- the recognized standards of decent or proper behavior;
proprieties:The least you can expect from them is some respect for the decencies. - the requirements or amenities for decent or comfortable living:to be able to afford the decencies.
- the recognized standards of decent or proper behavior;
- Latin decentia comeliness, decency, equivalent. to decent- (stem of decēns) fitting (see decent) + -ia noun, nominal suffix
- 1560–70
- 2. decorum, respectability, gentility.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
decency /ˈdiːsənsɪ/ n ( pl -cies)
'decency' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):