Meanings
plural civilities
- countableuncountableSpeech or behaviour that is fit for civil interactions; politeness, courtesy.First known use 16th c.
December 1749 Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, letter to his son The insolent civility of a proud man is, if possible, more shocking than his rudeness could be.
1 more example
This is an exact Inventory of what we found about the Body of the Man-Mountain, who uſed us with great Civility, and due Reſpect to your Majeſty's Commiſſion.
1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Emperor of Lilliput, Attended by Several of the Nobility, Come to See the Author in His Confinement. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part I (A Voyage to Lilliput), page 43 - countablein pluraluncountableAn individual act or expression of polite behaviour; a courtesy.First known use 17th c.
Mr Lovelace received from every one those civilities which were due to his birth […]
1748, [Samuel Richardson], chapter III, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume I, London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC - archaiccountableuncountableThe state or fact of being civilized; civilization.First known use 16th c.
Monarchies have risen from barbarism to civility, and fallen again to ruin.
1612, John Davies, Discoverie of the True Causes why Ireland was never entirely subdued - countableobsoleteuncountableA civil office; a civil capacity.First known use 16th c.
For what an enormity is this in a chriſtian realme to ſerue in a ciuility, hauinge the profyt of a Prouoſtſhip and a Deanrye, and a Perſonage? But I wil tel you what is lyke to come of it. It wil bring the clergy ſhortly into a very ſlauery.
1549 March 25 (Gregorian calendar), Hughe Latymer [i.e., Hugh Latimer], Augustine Bernher, compiler, “[27 Sermons Preached by the Ryght Reuerende Father in God and Constant Matir of Iesus Christe, Maister Hugh Latimer, […].] The Second Sermon of Maister Hughe Latimer, which He Preached before King Edward [VI].”, in Certayn Godly Sermons, Made uppon the Lords Prayer, […], London: […] John Day, […], published 1562, →OCLC, folio 36, recto
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
Translations
Arabic أَدَب
- أَدَب (ʔadab)politeness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
Bengali আদব, নাজাকত
- আদব (adob)politeness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
- নাজাকত (nazakôt)politeness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
Bulgarian вежливост, учтивост
- вежливост (vežlivost)politeness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
- учтивост (učtivost)politeness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
Catalan civisme, civilitat
- civismepoliteness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
- civilitatpoliteness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
Chinese Mandarin 文明, 素質 /素质
- 文明 (wénmíng)politeness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
- 素質 /素质 (sùzhì)politeness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
Esperanto dececo, civitismo
- dececopoliteness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
- civitismopoliteness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
- ĝentilecopoliteness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
Finnish kohteliaisuus
- kohteliaisuuspoliteness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
French politesse
- politessepoliteness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
German Anstand, Höflichkeit
- Anstandpoliteness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
- Höflichkeitpoliteness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
- Verbindlichkeitpoliteness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
Irish sibhialtacht
- sibhialtachtpoliteness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
Italian civiltà
- civiltàpoliteness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
Latin civilitas
- civilitaspoliteness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
Persian نزاکت
- نزاکت (nezâkat)politeness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
Portuguese civilidade
- civilidadepoliteness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
Romanian civilitate, politețe
- civilitatepoliteness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
- politețepoliteness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
- curteniepoliteness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
Russian ве́жливость, учти́вость
- ве́жливость (véžlivostʹ)politeness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
- учти́вость (učtívostʹ)politeness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
- любе́зность (ljubéznostʹ)politeness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
Scottish Gaelic modh
- modhpoliteness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
Spanish civismo, civilidad
- civismopoliteness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
- civilidadpoliteness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
- urbanidadpoliteness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
Thai ความสุภาพ
- ความสุภาพ (kwaam-sù-pâap)politeness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
Turkish edep, incelik
- edeppoliteness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
- incelikpoliteness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
- kibarlıkpoliteness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
- nezaketpoliteness; behavior which conforms to social conventions
Cite this entry
civility. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/civility
“civility.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/civility. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “civility,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/civility.
Source: civility on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.