# modesty

/ˈmɑdəsti/ (US) · /mˈɒdəsti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/modesty
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. humility about oneself

noun · CEFR B2

the quality of not talking too much about your own success or being too proud of your skills.

For teachers: the quality of being humble and having a moderate estimation of one's own talents or accomplishments.

- Despite winning the gold medal, his modesty made him credit his teammates for the victory.
- Her genuine modesty regarding her scientific breakthroughs made her a beloved figure among her peers, who were more accustomed to competitive egoism.

### 2. private dress or behavior

noun · CEFR B2

the habit of dressing or behaving in a way that does not attract sexual attention or show too much of the body.

For teachers: adherence to social or religious standards of propriety in dress and behavior, specifically to avoid sexual explicitness.

- She chose a dress with a high neckline out of a sense of modesty.
- The cultural expectations of modesty in the region required visitors to cover their shoulders and knees when entering sacred spaces.

### 3. smallness or limited scale

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the quality of being small or limited in size or amount.

For teachers: the state of being limited in scale, cost, or ambition; often used to describe budgets or goals.

- The modesty of their budget meant they had to choose a very simple wedding venue.
- The sheer modesty of the project's initial goals stood in stark contrast to the massive international impact it eventually achieved.

## Examples

- He accepted the award with great modesty.
- Despite her massive success in the tech industry, she maintained a sense of modesty that made her very approachable.
- The architect's design was praised for its structural modesty, as it managed to provide ample living space without dominating the natural landscape of the valley.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.