civility

noun

ci·​vil·​i·​ty sə-ˈvi-lə-tē How to pronounce civility (audio)
plural civilities
Synonyms of civility
1
a
: civilized conduct
especially : courtesy, politeness
bemoaned the decline of civility in our politics
b
: a polite act or expression
… lacked the little civilities and hypocrisies of political society …—Roy Jenkins
The men briefly exchanged civilities before the meeting began.
2
archaic : training in the humanities

Synonyms of civility

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But most of us have been around long enough to miss things such as bipartisanship among lawmakers and general civility. — Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026 Joe Biden, a link to a bygone era of civility and bipartisanship, ran in 2020 on a message of restoring the soul of America. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026 His rage stands as a measure of machismo, as if civility is for wimps. — Robin Givhan, Vanity Fair, 19 Aug. 2026 Boykin also believes county employees should undergo mandatory civility training. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for civility

Word History

Etymology

see civil

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of civility was in 1533

Rhymes for civility

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Browse Nearby Words

civiliter mortuus
civility
civilizable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Civility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civility. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

civility

noun
ci·​vil·​i·​ty sə-ˈvil-ət-ē How to pronounce civility (audio)
plural civilities
1
: civilized conduct
especially : courtesy sense 1, politeness
2
: a polite act or expression
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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