Words / C1

DEESNS-ee/ˈdiːsnsi/

Decency is conduct that meets a basic standard of honesty, kindness, or propriety: common decency, a decent interval. Honesty is a cousin; etiquette (already in the dictionary) is manners; indecency sits opposite. Do not rebrand a buried n as “ongoing work” and call the silence professional.

Meaning

Behaviour that meets basic standards of honesty, kindness, or propriety.

Examples

• “Decency required naming the empty n, not burying it under “ongoing work”.”
• “Honesty is a close twin. Manners are etiquette. A holding line is comms. A methods cell is evidence. Name the hole; the holding line can wait until the cell is filled.”

Good to know

Basic moral or proper conduct. Close: honesty. Contrast: etiquette (already in the dictionary). A holding line ≠ a filled n.

Near in meaning

honesty

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