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If you’re looking for a polite topic of conversation to raise at your next gathering of word lovers, we’ve got just the ticket. The French word étiquette means “ticket”; its direct French ancestor also referred to a label attached to something for description or identification. Spaniards of the 16th-century adopted the French word (altering it to etiqueta), and used it to refer to the written protocols describing the behavior demanded of those who appeared at court. Eventually, etiqueta came to be applied to the court ceremonies themselves as well as to the documents which outlined their requirements. Word of this linguistic development got back to the French, who then expanded their word’s meaning to include “proper court behavior” along with its “label” sense. By the middle of the 18th century English speakers had taken on etiquette as their own, applying it to the rules that indicate the proper and polite way to behave, whether in the presence or royalty or not.
Examples of etiquette in a Sentence
Allie Volpe, Vox, 19 Nov. 2024
What to Do Before an Estate Sale Familiarize Yourself with the Rules
Sometimes, a little research ahead of time can save you from an embarrassing—and likely unintentional—etiquette faux pas.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2024
That comes through in all sorts of ways, like their strict adherence to a flag-pulling etiquette.
—Eileen T. Meslar, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2024
Others brought up the fact that three-months notice is simply bad wedding etiquette in today’s busy world.
—Toria Sheffield, People.com, 25 Oct. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Etiquette.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/etiquette. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
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