Civility
/sɪˈvɪləti/
Definitions
Courtesy, politeness, and good manners.
/sɪˈvɪləti/
Politeness and courtesy in behavior or speech.
The speaker showed remarkable civility during the heated interview.
💡 Simply: Civility is like being super polite and respectful, even when you disagree with someone. It's about showing good manners and treating everyone nicely. Imagine a polite conversation between friends, even if they have different opinions – that's civility.
👶 For kids: Being nice and polite to others.
More Examples
A lack of civility marked the online discussions.
How It's Used
"Despite their disagreements, they maintained a level of civility throughout the debate."
"The lack of civility in political discourse is alarming."
From Middle French civilité, from Latin civilitas, from civis "citizen". It reflects the politeness and courtesy expected of citizens.
The word's usage has become more prominent in discussions about political discourse and online interactions in recent years, highlighting the increasing need for respectful communication.
Memory tip
Think 'civil' – being a good citizen implies being polite.