Decency is spelled with the IPA phonetic transcription /ˈdiːsənsi/. The initial 'd' sound is pronounced with the tongue touching the upper teeth, followed by an elongated 'ee' sound made by raising the front of the tongue towards the roof of the mouth. The 's' sound is pronounced with a hissing noise, followed by a neutral vowel sound 'uh', and finally the 'n' and 'c' sounds are pronounced together as a nasal consonant. This word refers to the quality of being polite, modest, or socially acceptable.
Decency is a noun that refers to the quality or state of being morally upright, having appropriate behavior, or conforming to prevailing social standards. It encompasses a range of attributes such as propriety, modesty, respectability, and civility. Decency is about conducting oneself in a way that aligns with accepted norms of morality and ethics, displaying good manners, and treating others with dignity.
At its core, decency seeks to uphold the principles of fairness, justice, and consideration for others. It involves adhering to a code of conduct that promotes honesty, integrity, and respect for oneself and those around. Decency involves a sense of personal responsibility and awareness of the impact of one's actions on the well-being of others.
In society, decency plays a vital role in fostering social harmony and creating an environment of mutual respect. It helps in establishing and maintaining trust, as well as upholding the values that form the foundation of a civilized community.
Decency extends to various aspects of life, including interpersonal relationships, public interactions, and professional conduct. It involves treating others with empathy, understanding, and tolerance, and refraining from engaging in behavior that is exploitative, offensive, or harmful.
The concept of decency varies across cultures and time periods, as it is shaped by social norms and values. However, it generally encompasses traits and behaviors that promote kindness, fairness, and consideration for the welfare and dignity of oneself and others.
• See decent.
• State or quality of being suitable or becoming in words or behaviour; propriety.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "decency" originated from the Latin word "decens", which means "fitting" or "proper". The Latin term is derived from the verb "decere", meaning "to be fitting" or "to be suitable". Over time, the word evolved into Middle English and then Modern English, retaining the sense of being proper, appropriate, or conforming to accepted standards of behavior.