dignity

noun

dig·​ni·​ty ˈdig-nə-tē How to pronounce dignity (audio)
plural dignities
Synonyms of dignity
1
: formal reserve or seriousness of manner, appearance, or language
2
: the quality or state of being worthy of honor or respect
3
a
: high rank, office, or position
b
: a legal title of nobility or honor
4
archaic : dignitary

Synonyms of dignity

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Examples of dignity in a Sentence

Jenny Daggers links feminist critiques and interreligious dialogue, arguing that our failure to treat people of other traditions with dignity matches in deed and rhetoric our inability to see that women are full and equal members of the community. —Francis X. Clooney, Commonweal, 11 Sept. 2009
When King spoke about the racist past, he gloried in black people beating the odds to win equal rights by arming "ourselves with dignity and self-respect." —Juan Williams, Wall Street Journal, 4 Apr. 2008
The period just after the Revolutionary War (1780-1820) was a time to project hard-won dignity, not show off. Federal interiors featured muted wall colors … and delicately carved or inlaid decoration. —Kelly Beamon, This Old House, March 2008
Roger was beaming. His creased fat face literally shone with pleasure, which, for the sake of dignity, he struggled to contain. —Alice Adams, The Story and Its Writer, 1987
Every speaker tries to create a love affair with his or her audience. But when the phenomenon called Maya Angelou takes the lectern at Pensacola (Florida) Junior College, she does not so much speak to the audience as "embrace" it. She sings, reads verse, thunders oratorically, even dances. Standing a majestic six feet tall and gifted with a resonant voice and … dignity, she is a poet, preacher, performer extraordinaire. —Cheryl McCall, People, 8 Mar. 1982
She showed dignity in defeat. The ceremony was conducted with great dignity. Theirs is a country that cherishes freedom and human dignity.
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.
The music was imbued with grace and dignity in both its most introspective and uplifting moments. — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026 There is also a sense of real revulsion and anger about the concentration of wealth at the top, and a sense of wanting to create a more egalitarian country … that speaks to a sense of fundamental human dignity. — John Blake, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026 In tiny San Marino, the American pope praises a republic built on freedom and mutual respect, calling it a ‘laboratory of good politics’ that defends human dignity. — Giada Zampano, Los Angeles Times, 22 Aug. 2026 The challenge is to preserve human dignity while recovering our capacity for heroic ambition. — Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dignity

Word History

Etymology

Middle English dignete, from Anglo-French digneté, from Latin dignitat-, dignitas, from dignus

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of dignity was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing dignity

Rhymes for dignity

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Browse Nearby Words

dignitary
dignity
digonal
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Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

dignity

noun
dig·​ni·​ty ˈdig-nət-ē How to pronounce dignity (audio)
plural dignities
1
: the quality or state of being worthy, honored, or respected
2
: high rank, office, or position
3
: a look or way of behaving that suggests seriousness and self-control
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