Definition and pronunciation
propriety /prəˈpraɪəti/ — noun: behavior that conforms to accepted standards of morality, decency, or social correctness; the quality of being proper.
Easy explanation
Propriety means doing what is considered “proper” or socially acceptable. It’s about good manners, decency, and following rules of politeness and morality. If someone shows propriety, they act in a way society sees as correct or respectable.
Grammatical formation
- Noun: propriety (uncountable, but sometimes used in plural “proprieties” to mean proper behaviors).
- Adjective form: proper.
Meanings and nuances
- Social correctness — following cultural or etiquette rules.
- Moral decency — behaving in a way considered morally acceptable.
- Appropriateness — suitability to the context or occasion.
- Plural sense — the accepted standards of good behavior (“the proprieties of society”).
With prepositions and variants
- propriety in behavior: “She showed propriety in her manners.”
- propriety of action: “He questioned the propriety of her remarks.”
- act with propriety: “They acted with propriety at the ceremony.”
Common collocations
sense of propriety, act with propriety, social propriety, moral propriety, the proprieties of society, propriety in dress, questions of propriety
Idioms and neighboring expressions
- “the done thing” — socially acceptable behavior
- “keep up appearances” — maintaining social propriety
- “prim and proper” — overly strict propriety
Word comparisons
- propriety vs property: propriety = correctness, property = possession.
- propriety vs decency: both mean acceptable behavior; decency = morality, propriety = etiquette + morality.
- propriety vs modesty: modesty = humility/sexual restraint; propriety = broader correctness in behavior.
- propriety vs prudery: propriety = balanced respectability; prudery = extreme and exaggerated.
Real-life examples
- “The senator’s actions raised questions of propriety.”
- “She dressed with propriety at the royal event.”
- “Victorian society placed high value on propriety.”
- “The teacher expected propriety from his students.”
- “He showed no sense of propriety in public.”
Sample sentences
- “She always acts with propriety in formal settings.”
- “The judge’s propriety was praised.”
- “He questioned the propriety of accepting gifts.”
- “Propriety demanded a polite reply.”
- “Victorian propriety discouraged public affection.”
- “He failed to observe the proprieties of the office.”
- “Her sense of propriety made her blush at the joke.”
- “The party was held with strict propriety.”
- “She admired his propriety in handling the situation.”
- “Propriety governs how society defines respect.”
Synonyms
decency, decorum, respectability, appropriateness, civility, formality, etiquette, correctness
Antonyms
indecency, impropriety, immorality, rudeness, misconduct, shamelessness, vulgarity
Related terms
decorum, decency, modesty, respectability, virtue, etiquette, morality
Connection to sexuality
Yes, indirectly. Propriety often extends to sexual behavior, describing what is considered “proper” in relationships, dress, or intimacy. For example, societies once demanded sexual propriety (virginity before marriage, modest clothing, no public displays of affection). In this sense, propriety is a cultural standard shaping sexual norms.
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