Propriety Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

Britannica Dictionary definition of PROPRIETY

formal

1

[noncount]

:

behavior that is accepted as socially or morally correct and proper

• She acted with propriety.
• He went beyond the bounds of propriety. [=he acted improperly]
• She conducted herself with propriety.

2

[noncount]

:

the state or quality of being correct and proper

• They debated the propriety of the punishment that he was given.

3

proprieties

[plural]

:

rules of correct social behavior

• When attending a wedding, there are certain proprieties that must be observed.
• the social proprieties