ENGLISH
REFERENCE

civility

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced US //səˈvɪɫəti// UK //sɪvˈɪlɪti// ci·vil·i·ty Archaic

n. polite and formal behavior toward other people. It means showing respect even when you disagree with someone.

n. polite, reasonable, or respectful behavior, especially in a social or public context. Often refers to the basic level of courtesy required for a functional society.


SIMPLE

The two politicians treated each other with civility during the debate.

CONTEXTUAL

After weeks of arguing, the neighbors finally reached a level of civility that allowed them to share the driveway.

COMPLEX

The breakdown of public civility in digital spaces has led many social scientists to investigate how anonymity affects our willingness to remain polite during disagreements.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

Borrowed from Latin civilitas: compare French civilité. English equivalent civil + -ity.

Usage

Often used with the preposition 'between' or 'toward'.

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