civility
noun
ci·vil·i·ty
sə-ˈvi-lə-tē 
plural civilities
1
a
: civilized conduct
b
: a polite act or expression
… lacked the little civilities and hypocrisies of political society …—
Roy Jenkins
Roy JenkinsThe men briefly exchanged civilities before the meeting began.
2
archaic
: training in the humanities
Examples of civility in a Sentence
They greeted each other with the usual exchange of civilities.
after the usual civilities, the parents and the principal had a serious talk about the boy
Recent Examples on the Web
And Mary’s electric, palpably physical pursuit of justice becomes even more crucial in the final act, after a grotesque display of performative mockery toward Māori culture fractures the last remnants of civility present amid one of Cole’s lavish-yet-repulsive gatherings.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
The visceral footage captures a neighborhood under siege, showcasing a breakdown of civility and a desperate police response.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
That civility is a thin veneer.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
If Democrats win control, the first priority must be fiscal responsibility, lowering costs for working families and restoring civility — working together for Americans instead of self-interest or extreme ideology.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for civility
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
The visceral footage captures a neighborhood under siege, showcasing a breakdown of civility and a desperate police response.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
That civility is a thin veneer.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
If Democrats win control, the first priority must be fiscal responsibility, lowering costs for working families and restoring civility — working together for Americans instead of self-interest or extreme ideology.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for civility
Cite this Entry
“Civility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civility. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
civility
noun
ci·vil·i·ty
sə-ˈvil-ət-ē
plural civilities
1
: civilized conduct
especially
: courtesy sense 1, politeness
2
: a polite act or expression
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
