noun
propriety
pruh-PREYE-uh-tee
Propriety (noun) means Correct or socially acceptable behaviour; good manners and decorum. Example: “She always behaved with great propriety at formal events.”
noun
1
Correct or socially acceptable behaviour; good manners and decorum.
"She always behaved with great propriety at formal events."
"He questioned the propriety of accepting gifts from clients."
How to use propriety
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBehaving in a proper, socially correct way.
Common mistake
Easy to mix up with "property" — propriety is about correct behaviour, property is about ownership.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a sense of propriety
question the propriety of
social propriety
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Word forms
- Plural
- proprieties
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She always behaved with great _____ at formal events.
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.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for propriety
See all rhymes for 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.
