decency
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
Behaviour that conforms to accepted standards of morality, modesty, or respectability.
The quality of being polite, considerate, and respectful of social norms; the minimum standards of acceptable behaviour in a society.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often used with abstract possessors ('common decency', 'basic decency'). Can refer to both behaviour and the internal moral quality driving it.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. The word is equally common and carries identical connotations in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly old-fashioned or formal in casual contexts; implies a strong moral stance.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both corpora, with slightly higher occurrence in British English in formal/political discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have the decency to + INFbeneath (one's) decencyfor decency's sakeVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “for decency's sake”
- “common decency”
- “the decencies of life”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to ethical standards in professional conduct, e.g., 'The merger was handled with basic business decency.'
Academic
Used in philosophy, sociology, and law to discuss social norms and moral minima.
Everyday
Used to criticise rude or immoral behaviour, e.g., 'He didn't even have the decency to apologise.'
Technical
In law, may refer to 'public decency' statutes or standards.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- One must decently behave.
American English
- They decently refrained from comment.
adverb
British English
- He behaved decently.
American English
- They dressed decently for the occasion.
adjective
British English
- His decency standards were high.
- A decency campaign was launched.
American English
- She argued for decency laws.
- The decency clause was controversial.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He showed great decency in helping the stranger.
- It's a matter of basic decency to say thank you.
- The scandal shocked the public's sense of decency.
- For decency's sake, they postponed the announcement.
- The debate centred on the boundaries of public decency.
- His actions, while legal, were widely condemned as lacking in common human decency.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: DECent behaviour + CY (noun suffix) = the state of being decent.
Conceptual Metaphor
DECENCY IS A SOCIAL FABRIC (to tear/rupture); DECENCY IS A CONTAINER (beneath/within decency); DECENCY IS A POSSESSION (to have/lack decency).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'приличие' in all contexts; 'decency' is broader.
- Do not confuse with 'decade' ('десятилетие') or 'decent' as 'acceptable' ('сносный').
Common Mistakes
- Using 'decency' for 'decade' (spelling error).
- Confusing 'decency' (abstract noun) with 'decency' as a countable thing (rare).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes the core meaning of 'decency'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is common in formal writing, news, and ethical discussions, but less frequent in casual conversation.
Rarely. The plural 'decencies' refers to the specific customs or proprieties of polite society.
'Decency' implies a deeper moral foundation, while 'politeness' is more about surface manners and etiquette.
It is strongly positive when describing behaviour, but often used negatively (e.g., 'lack of decency') to criticise.