etiquette

noun

et·​i·​quette ˈe-ti-kət How to pronounce etiquette (audio)
-ˌket
: the conduct or procedure required by good breeding or prescribed by authority to be observed in social or official life

Did you know?

If you’re looking for a polite topic of conversation to raise at your next gathering of word lovers, we’ve got just the ticket. The French word étiquette means “ticket”; its direct French ancestor also referred to a label attached to something for description or identification. Spaniards of the 16th-century adopted the French word (altering it to etiqueta), and used it to refer to the written protocols describing the behavior demanded of those who appeared at court. Eventually, etiqueta came to be applied to the court ceremonies themselves as well as to the documents which outlined their requirements. Word of this linguistic development got back to the French, who then expanded their word’s meaning to include “proper court behavior” along with its “label” sense. By the middle of the 18th century English speakers had taken on etiquette as their own, applying it to the rules that indicate the proper and polite way to behave, whether in the presence or royalty or not.

Examples of etiquette in a Sentence

Her failure to respond to the invitation was a serious breach of etiquette. the couple exhibited poor etiquette when they left the party without saying good-bye to the host and hostess
Recent Examples on the Web Tig Notaro's kids are still learning proper audience etiquette. Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2024 But children's birthday parties have an etiquette that can be applied to other gatherings, so long as a majority of the guests are too young to do long division. Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 Sill, the etiquette coach, suggested spelling out the neighborhood’s social norms around parking and noise to prospective tenants — and explicitly spelling out the rules in rental agreements. Keith Wagstaff, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2024 What is considered the proper etiquette in this situation? – Wondering Dear Wondering: This isn’t an etiquette question. Amy Dickinson, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2024 The History of Hat Etiquette For instance, hat etiquette is still widely upheld. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2024 Moreover, the dominant etiquette in virtual or online interactions favors fake positivity at the expense of honest negative feedback. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 With that in mind, below, the experts break down proper tipping etiquette. Audrey Noble, Vogue, 27 Feb. 2024 What is considered the proper etiquette in this situation? — Wondering Wondering: This isn’t an etiquette question. Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 13 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'etiquette.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French étiquette, literally, ticket — more at ticket entry 1

First Known Use

1737, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of etiquette was in 1737

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Dictionary Entries Near etiquette

Cite this Entry

“Etiquette.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/etiquette. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

etiquette

noun
et·​i·​quette ˈet-i-kət How to pronounce etiquette (audio)
-ˌket
: the rules governing the proper way to behave
Etymology

from French étiquette "etiquette," literally, "ticket," from earlier etiquet "ticket" — related to ticket

More from Merriam-Webster on etiquette

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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