Decorum Meaning
/dɪˈkɔːɹəm/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounAppropriate social behavior.
nounA convention of social behavior.
Sentence Examples
It was a surprise to see all the students behaving with decorum on prom night.
You must not lack decorum dealing with your benefactors.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The diplomat maintained strict ____ during the tense negotiation.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It was a surprise to see all the students behaving with ____ on prom night.
Word Origin & History
Learned borrowing from Latin decōrum, neuter form of decōrus (“proper, decent”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Everyone was assembled in the dining-room. Under the circumstances, we were naturally not a cheerful party. The reaction after a shock is always trying, and I think we were all suffering from it. Decorum and good breeding naturally enjoined that our demeanour should be much as usual, yet I could not help wondering if this self-control were really a matter of great difficulty. There were no red eyes, no signs of secretly indulged grief."
— 1920, Agatha Christie, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, London: Pan Books, published 1954, page 57:
"In the architecture and embellishments of the chamber, the evident design was to dazzle and astound. Little attention had been paid to the decora of what is technically called “keeping,” or to the proprieties of nationality. The eye wandered from object to object, and rested upon none; neither the “Grotesques” of the Greek painters, nor the sculptures of the best Italian days, nor the huge carvings of untutored Egypt."
— 1834 January, [Edgar Allan Poe], “The Visionary”, in The Lady’s Book, page 41, column 2:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The diplomat maintained strict ____ during the tense negotiation.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It was a surprise to see all the students behaving with ____ on prom night.