propriety
2 synonyms and 1 antonym for propriety, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Correct or socially acceptable behaviour; good manners and decorum.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use propriety
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a sense of propriety
question the propriety of
social propriety
Etymology
From late Middle English propretee ("ownership"), from Anglo-Norman propreté, ultimately from Latin proprietas. A doublet of "property" — the two words diverged over centuries, with "propriety" keeping the sense of correctness and "property" keeping the sense of ownership.
Full origin of propriety →Frequently asked questions
What does “propriety” mean?
The word “propriety” means correct or socially acceptable behaviour; good manners and decorum. In plain terms, behaving in a proper, socially correct way.
How do you pronounce “propriety”?
“Propriety” is pronounced pruh-PREYE-uh-tee (/pɹəˈpɹaɪəti/ in IPA).
How do you use “propriety” in a sentence?
Here is “propriety” used in a sentence: “She always behaved with great propriety at formal events.”
What part of speech is “propriety”?
“Propriety” is a noun.
Where does the word “propriety” come from?
The word “propriety” comes from Latin.
