First Known Use: 1539
Dictionary
decent
adjective de·cent \ˈdē-sənt\
: polite, moral, and honest
: showing kindness : seeming to care about the feelings or problems of other people
: good enough but not the best : adequate or acceptable
Full Definition of DECENT
1
2
3
: free from immodesty or obscenity <decent language>
4
: fairly good : adequate, satisfactory <decent wages>
5
: marked by moral integrity, kindness, and goodwill <hard-working and decent folks> <it's very decent of them to help>
— de·cent·ly adverb
See decent defined for English-language learners
See decent defined for kids
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Examples of DECENT
- Not long afterward, his father's health starts to fail. Mrs. Queenan has kicked him out, and he's landed in a flophouse. When word reaches Joe, he takes out his checkbook and moves his father into a decent apartment. —James McManus, New York Times Book Review, 26 Apr. 2009
- In a whiney, rambling speech at his sentencing he took a page from the script of the earlier case, once again portraying himself as a flawed but decent man unfairly caught up in circumstances. —Bill Hewitt et al., People, 22 Dec. 2008
- Tommy Railles, the doctor's boy. Just a great kid. Smart at school, a decent athlete, great with the girls, wonderful with older people. —Ward Just, Forgetfulness, (2006) 2007
- The next time an overly friendly blond sidles up in a crowded bar and asks you to order her a brand-name martini, or a cheery tourist couple wonder whether you can take their picture with their sleek new camera-in-a-cell phone, you might want to think twice. There's a —decentchance that these strangers are pitchmen in disguise, paid to oh-so-subtly pique your interest in their product. —Paul McFedries, Word Spy, 2004
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Origin of DECENT
Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin decent-, decens, present participle of decēre to be fitting; akin to Latin decus honor, dignus worthy, Greek dokein to seem, seem good
Related to DECENT
Synonym Discussion of DECENT
chaste, pure, modest, decent mean free from all taint of what is lewd or salacious. chaste primarily implies a refraining from acts or even thoughts or desires that are not virginal or not sanctioned by marriage vows <they maintained chaste relations>. pure differs from chaste in implying innocence and absence of temptation rather than control of one's impulses and actions <the pure of heart>. modest and decent apply especially to deportment and dress as outward signs of inward chastity or purity <preferred more modest swimsuits> <decent people didn't go to such movies>.
Rhymes with DECENT
DECENT Defined for Kids
decent
adjective de·cent \ˈdē-sənt\
Definition of DECENT for Kids
1
: meeting an accepted standard of good manners or morality <Do the decent thing and confess.>
2
: being moral and good <She was raised by decent folks.>
3
: not offensive <decent language>
4
: fairly good <decent grades>
— de·cent·ly adverb
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