Definitions for decent
ˈdi səntde·cent

Princeton's WordNet(3.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. decent, nice(adj)

   socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous

   "from a decent family"; "a nice girl"

2. becoming, comely, comme il faut, decent, decorous, seemly(adj)

   according with custom or propriety

   "her becoming modesty"; "comely behavior"; "it is not comme il faut for a gentleman to be constantly asking for money"; "a decent burial"; "seemly behavior"

3. decent(adj)

   conforming to conventions of sexual behavior

   "speech in this circle, if not always decent, never became lewd"- George Santayana

4. adequate, decent, enough(adj)

   sufficient for the purpose

   "an adequate income"; "the food was adequate"; "a decent wage"; "enough food"; "food enough"

5. decent(adj)

   decently clothed

   "are you decent?"

6. decent(adverb)

   observing conventional sexual mores in speech or behavior or dress

   "a modest neckline in her dress"; "though one of her shoulder straps had slipped down, she was perfectly decent by current standards"

7. properly, decently, decent, in good order, right, the right way(adverb)

   in the right manner

   "please do your job properly!"; "can't you carry me decent?"

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. decent(Adjective)

   Appropriate; suitable for the circumstances.

   Etymology: From décent, or its source, decens, present participle of decet, from deke-, from base (compare Ancient Greek δοκεῖν, δέχεσθαι; Sanskrit , ). Meaning kind, pleasant is from 1902.

2. decent(Adjective)

   Having a suitable conformity to basic moral standards; showing integrity, fairness, or other characteristics associated with moral uprightness.

   Etymology: From décent, or its source, decens, present participle of decet, from deke-, from base (compare Ancient Greek δοκεῖν, δέχεσθαι; Sanskrit , ). Meaning kind, pleasant is from 1902.

3. decent(Adjective)

   Sufficiently clothed or dressed to be seen.

   Are you decent? May I come in?

   Etymology: From décent, or its source, decens, present participle of decet, from deke-, from base (compare Ancient Greek δοκεῖν, δέχεσθαι; Sanskrit , ). Meaning kind, pleasant is from 1902.

4. decent(Adjective)

   Fair; good enough; okay.

   He's a decent saxophonist, but probably not good enough to make a career of it.

   Etymology: From décent, or its source, decens, present participle of decet, from deke-, from base (compare Ancient Greek δοκεῖν, δέχεσθαι; Sanskrit , ). Meaning kind, pleasant is from 1902.

5. decent(Adjective)

   Significant; substantial.

   There are a decent number of references out there, if you can find them.

   Etymology: From décent, or its source, decens, present participle of decet, from deke-, from base (compare Ancient Greek δοκεῖν, δέχεσθαι; Sanskrit , ). Meaning kind, pleasant is from 1902.

6. decent(Adjective)

   Comely; shapely; well-formed.

   A sable stole of cyprus lawn / Over thy decent shoulders drawn uE000163484uE001 Milton.

   Etymology: From décent, or its source, decens, present participle of decet, from deke-, from base (compare Ancient Greek δοκεῖν, δέχεσθαι; Sanskrit , ). Meaning kind, pleasant is from 1902.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Decent(adj)

   suitable in words, behavior, dress, or ceremony; becoming; fit; decorous; proper; seemly; as, decent conduct; decent language

   Etymology: [L. decens, decentis, p. pr. of decere to be fitting or becoming; akin to decus glory, honor, ornament, Gr. dokei^n to seem good, to seem, think; cf. Skr. d to grant, to give; and perh. akin to E. attire, tire: cf. F. dcent. Cf. Decorate, Decorum, Deign.]

2. Decent(adj)

   free from immodesty or obscenity; modest

   Etymology: [L. decens, decentis, p. pr. of decere to be fitting or becoming; akin to decus glory, honor, ornament, Gr. dokei^n to seem good, to seem, think; cf. Skr. d to grant, to give; and perh. akin to E. attire, tire: cf. F. dcent. Cf. Decorate, Decorum, Deign.]

3. Decent(adj)

   comely; shapely; well-formed

   Etymology: [L. decens, decentis, p. pr. of decere to be fitting or becoming; akin to decus glory, honor, ornament, Gr. dokei^n to seem good, to seem, think; cf. Skr. d to grant, to give; and perh. akin to E. attire, tire: cf. F. dcent. Cf. Decorate, Decorum, Deign.]

4. Decent(adj)

   moderate, but competent; sufficient; hence, respectable; fairly good; reasonably comfortable or satisfying; as, a decent fortune; a decent person

   Etymology: [L. decens, decentis, p. pr. of decere to be fitting or becoming; akin to decus glory, honor, ornament, Gr. dokei^n to seem good, to seem, think; cf. Skr. d to grant, to give; and perh. akin to E. attire, tire: cf. F. dcent. Cf. Decorate, Decorum, Deign.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Decent

   dē′sent, adj. becoming: seemly: proper: modest: moderate: tolerable.—n. Dē′cency, becomingness: modesty.—adv. Dē′cently. [L. decens, decentis, pr.p. of decēre, to be becoming.]

British National Corpus

1. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'decent' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2304

2. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'decent' in Adjectives Frequency: #643

Anagrams for decent »

1. cedent

How to pronounce decent?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say decent in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of decent in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of decent in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of decent in a Sentence

1. Jessica McPeters:

   We want to move now, honestly. We thought this was a decent area, which it is. I don’t feel unsafe, but we wo n’t go to the 7-Eleven at night anymore, which is unfortunate.

2. Benoit Fayaud:

   More than the hot spell we're seeing at the moment, it is the dry weather during spring that will have an impact on the crop, yields will be lower than last year but should still be at a decent level.

3. Walter E. Williams:

   Communism and socialism is [sic] seductive. It promises us that people will contribute according to ability and receive according to needs. Everybody is equal. Everybody has a right to decent housing, decent food and affordable medical care. History should have taught us that when we hear people talk this stuff -- watch out! and socialism is [sic] seductive. It promises us that people will contribute according to ability and receive according to needs. Everybody is equal. Everybody has a right to decent housing, decent food and affordable medical care. History should have taught us that when we hear people talk this stuff -- watch out!

4. Tony Schumacher:

   We've got a great car, we're not coming off a bad race, either. We won in Phoenix and performed decent in Pomona. I think the changes we made early on, for once, really worked. It's setting a good trend on a tuneup that we needed to find quicker than last year.

5. Tiger Woods:

   I didn't putt well again, i hit a few good drives down the middle. I felt I drove it pretty decent but I made nothing and the chances I did have I missed them all.

Images & Illustrations of decent

Popularity rank by frequency of use