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. Sinclair Lewis:

   In other countries, art and literature are left to a lot of shabby bums living in attics and feeding on booze and spaghetti, but in America the successful writer or picture-painter is indistinguishable from any other decent businessman.

2. Jutta Steinruck:

   McDonald's is a global player, and people all over the world should know it is an unfair player that should face global pressure to pay its taxes and decent wages.

3. Dinesh D'Souza:

   America is the greatest, freest and most decent society in existence. It is an oasis of goodness in a desert of cynicism and barbarism. This country, once an experiment unique in the world, is now the last best hope for the world.

4. Mike Schmuhl:

   We are at another level where we need draw distinctions and differences with other candidates, a lot of people are drawn to Pete Buttigieg because Pete Buttigieg is civil and decent and kind. That's who Pete Buttigieg is. But elections are about choices and they are about differences and they are about distinctions.

5. Harper Lee:

   In the mid-1950s, I completed a novel called' Go Set a Watchman,' it features the character known as Scout as an adult woman, and I thought it a pretty decent effort. My editor, who was taken by the flashbacks to Scout's childhood, persuaded me to write a novel( what became' To Kill a Mockingbird') from the point of view of the young Scout.

Images & Illustrations of decent

Popularity rank by frequency of use