civility
noun
ci·vil·i·ty
sə-ˈvi-lə-tē 
plural civilities
1
a
: civilized conduct
b
: a polite act or expression
lacked the little civilities and hypocrisies of political society—
Roy Jenkins
Roy JenkinsThe men briefly exchanged civilities before the meeting began.
2
archaic
: training in the humanities
Examples of civility in a Sentence
They greeted each other with the usual exchange of civilities.
after the usual civilities, the parents and the principal had a serious talk about the boy
Recent Examples on the Web
Being Mississippi, a state that prides itself on its southern civility, each time something significant passes in the state legislature, there is a tendency to pretend that change ...
—Douglas Carswell, National Review, 2 Apr. 2025
Since voters can’t wash a president’s or member of Congress’s mouth out with soap, the question becomes whether this salty language is merely for performative shock value or a sign of declining civility in American culture.
—John Scott Lewinski, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2025
The hearing largely had a tone of civility, despite multiple interruptions from protesters voicing support for public schools and trans students, among other issues.
—Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 13 Feb. 2025
When combined with a lack of civility from the top, our community is slowly being torn apart.
—Miami Herald Staff, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for civility
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Douglas Carswell, National Review, 2 Apr. 2025
Since voters can’t wash a president’s or member of Congress’s mouth out with soap, the question becomes whether this salty language is merely for performative shock value or a sign of declining civility in American culture.
—John Scott Lewinski, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2025
The hearing largely had a tone of civility, despite multiple interruptions from protesters voicing support for public schools and trans students, among other issues.
—Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 13 Feb. 2025
When combined with a lack of civility from the top, our community is slowly being torn apart.
—Miami Herald Staff, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for civility
Cite this Entry
“Civility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civility. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
civility
noun
ci·vil·i·ty
sə-ˈvil-ət-ē
plural civilities
1
: civilized conduct
especially
: courtesy sense 1, politeness
2
: a polite act or expression
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