noun

decorum

dih-KAW-ruhm

noun

Polite, appropriate behaviour expected in a particular social setting.

"Everyone maintained decorum during the formal ceremony."

"His outburst was seen as a serious breach of decorum."

How to Use Decorum

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBehaving properly and respectfully for the occasion.

Common mistake

Decorum is about correct social conduct, not decoration — despite the similar spelling, the two words are unrelated in meaning.

Common pairings

maintain decorum a sense of decorum breach of decorum

decora plural, decorums plural

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Can you complete this real example?

Everyone maintained _____ during the formal ceremony.

A learned borrowing from Latin decōrum, meaning "proper" or "fitting."

forum quorum