propriety
noun
pro·pri·e·ty prə-ˈprī-ə-tē 
plural proprieties
1
: the quality or state of being proper or suitable : appropriateness
2
a
: conformity to what is socially acceptable in conduct or speech
b
proprieties plural : the customs and manners of polite society
c
: fear of offending against conventional rules of behavior especially between the sexes
3
obsolete : true nature
4
obsolete : a special characteristic : peculiarity
Did you know?
In an earlier era, when social manners were far more elaborate than they are today, propriety and impropriety were words in constant use. Today we're more likely to use them in other contexts. We may talk about the propriety of government officials' dealings with private citizens, the propriety of the relationship between a lawyer and a judge, or the impropriety of speaking out of turn in a meeting that follows Robert's rules of order. Relations between men and women still present questions of propriety, but today it's often in the workplace rather than in social settings. Wherever rules, principles, and standard procedures have been clearly stated, propriety can become an issue. Something improper usually isn't actually illegal, but it makes people uncomfortable by giving the impression that something isn't quite right.
Synonyms
- decency
- decorum
- form
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
If Madison felt the same annoyance with the dissenters, his prim sense of political propriety forbade him from stooping to personal attacks. 
Jack N. Rakove, Original Meanings … , 1996 His austere and basically humble personality imposes a curious damp propriety upon his memorial. John Updike, New Yorker, 1 July 1991 In contemporary America the appearance of prosperity is all too often taken as a sign of propriety. Jack Beatty, Atlantic, December 1989 She conducted herself with propriety. They debated the propriety of the punishment that he was given. When attending a wedding, there are certain proprieties that must be observed. See More
Jack N. Rakove, Original Meanings … , 1996 His austere and basically humble personality imposes a curious damp propriety upon his memorial. John Updike, New Yorker, 1 July 1991 In contemporary America the appearance of prosperity is all too often taken as a sign of propriety. Jack Beatty, Atlantic, December 1989 She conducted herself with propriety. They debated the propriety of the punishment that he was given. When attending a wedding, there are certain proprieties that must be observed. See More Recent Examples on the Web Blogs pulled the guardrails off any pretense of propriety in celebrity coverage, and this made the stars less and less inclined to present themselves for public consumption. Clare Malone, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2022 While the queen was generally seen as a paragon of personal virtue, Charles’s judgment and propriety have been the subject of perpetual scrutiny from his time as a young prince even up until a few months ago. Patrick Kingsley, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Sep. 2022 What regulations existed reflect concern with women’s behavior and marital propriety, not with fetal life. Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker, 16 July 2022 Against all propriety and etiquette, Jeanne moves to Versailles, where her arrival scandalizes the court. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 10 Aug. 2022 Both use Shake Shack's propriety Buffalo Sauce, which takes the classic topping but adds more pronounced vinegary notes and a touch of garlic. Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 5 Aug. 2022 When creating the budget for propriety software, here are three things that Sattineedi recommends businesses consider: 1. Rhett Power, Forbes, 24 July 2022 Much worse than all that has been Johnson’s legacy, his assault on democratic norms and constitutional propriety. Geoffrey Wheatcroft, The New Republic, 11 July 2022 But the company’s outside auditors, at the accounting firm BDO, were questioning the setup’s propriety. Jesse Drucker, New York Times, 7 July 2022 See More
Clare Malone, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2022 While the queen was generally seen as a paragon of personal virtue, Charles’s judgment and propriety have been the subject of perpetual scrutiny from his time as a young prince even up until a few months ago. Patrick Kingsley, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Sep. 2022 What regulations existed reflect concern with women’s behavior and marital propriety, not with fetal life. Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker, 16 July 2022 Against all propriety and etiquette, Jeanne moves to Versailles, where her arrival scandalizes the court. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 10 Aug. 2022 Both use Shake Shack's propriety Buffalo Sauce, which takes the classic topping but adds more pronounced vinegary notes and a touch of garlic. Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 5 Aug. 2022 When creating the budget for propriety software, here are three things that Sattineedi recommends businesses consider: 1. Rhett Power, Forbes, 24 July 2022 Much worse than all that has been Johnson’s legacy, his assault on democratic norms and constitutional propriety. Geoffrey Wheatcroft, The New Republic, 11 July 2022 But the company’s outside auditors, at the accounting firm BDO, were questioning the setup’s propriety. Jesse Drucker, New York Times, 7 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English propriete, from Anglo-French proprieté, propreté property, quality of a person or thing — more at property
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Kids Definition
propriety
noun
pro·pri·ety prə-ˈprī-ə-tē
plural proprieties
1
: correctness in manners or behavior
He went beyond the bounds of propriety.
2
: the quality or state of being proper
3
proprieties plural : the rules of correct behavior the proprieties of weddings
propriety
noun
1
as in decorum
socially acceptable behavior some people miss the straitlaced propriety that was largely abandoned in the 1960s Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- decorum
- etiquette
- decency
- morality
- prudence
- dignity
- civility
- fitness
- politeness
- form
- appropriateness
- refinement
- gentility
- courtesy
- integrity
- virtue
- correctness
- honesty
- politesse
- courteousness
- graciousness
- seemliness
- grace
- rightness
- carefulness
- discretion
- probity
- rectitude
- attentiveness
- goodness
- honor
- gentilesse
- uprightness
- virtuousness
- correctitude
- care
- straightness
- righteousness
- attention
- mannerliness
- decorousness
- high-mindedness
- character
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- impropriety
- indecency
- coarseness
- crudeness
- vulgarity
- indecorum
- imprudence
- discourtesy
- indiscretion
- immorality
- incivility
- evil
- degradation
- wickedness
- badness
- perversion
- gracelessness
- impoliteness
- degeneracy
- depravity
- dishonesty
- debauchery
- crookedness
- unscrupulousness
- underhandedness
2
as in manner
proprieties plural personal conduct or behavior as evaluated by an accepted standard of appropriateness for a social or professional setting an etiquette columnist who insists that traditional proprieties are necessary in order to maintain a civil society Synonyms & Similar Words
- manner
- etiquette
- attitude
- politeness
- practice
- rules
- mores
- form
- decorum
- convention
- style
- custom
- deportment
- civilities
- protocol
- demeanor
- bearing
- habit
- amenities
- presence
- mien
- courtesy
- pleasantries
- formalities
- poise
- posture
- mode
- carriage
- pose
- air
- polish
- mannerliness
- pattern
- fashion
- trick
- way
- practise
- wont
3
as in appropriateness
the quality or state of being especially suitable or fitting I'm not sure about the propriety of serving champagne in these glasses Synonyms & Similar Words
- appropriateness
- validity
- applicability
- usefulness
- relevance
- suitability
- properness
- rightness
- relevancy
- aptness
- seemliness
- fitness
- felicity
- appositeness
- happiness
- suitableness
- acceptability
- expediency
- compatibility
- convenience
- fittingness
- congruity
- adequacy
- justifiability
- pertinence
- expedience
- felicitousness
- materiality
- agreeableness
- harmoniousness
- bearing
- satisfactoriness
- connection
- adequateness
- serviceableness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- impropriety
- inappropriateness
- unfitness
- wrongness
- incompatibility
- unsuitability
- incongruity
- inexpediency
- infelicity
- unseemliness
- inapplicability
- incongruence
- disagreeableness
- irrelevance
- immateriality
- inaptness
- irrelevancy
- incongruousness
- inappositeness
- meaninglessness
- improperness
- pointlessness
- inexpedience
- inharmoniousness
- unbecomingness