decent

UK: /ˈdiːs^ənt/ US: /ˈdisənt/ ,(dē′sənt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

de•cent /ˈdisənt/   adj. 

1. acting or being in agreement with recognized and accepted standards of proper behavior or speech;
   not obscene:
   Please use decent language in front of the children.
2. morally upright:
   Although they may be hungry, decent people won't steal.
3. [ be + ~] properly dressed:
   I'm not decent yet; I'll be right down when I am.
4. adequate;
   passable;
   acceptable:
   a decent room and dinner for a low price.
5. kind;
   courteous:
   [be + ~ + of] was very decent of him to defend me.

de•cent•ly, adv. 

: He always acted decently toward me.

See -dece-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

de•cent  (dē′sənt), adj. 

1. conforming to the recognized standard of propriety, good taste, modesty, etc., as in behavior or speech.
2. respectable;
   worthy:
   a decent family.
3. adequate;
   fair;
   passable:
   a decent wage.
4. kind;
   obliging;
   generous:
   It was very decent of him to lend me his watch.
5. suitable;
   appropriate:
   She did not have a decent coat for the cold winter.
6. of fairly attractive appearance:
   a decent face.
7. Informal Terms wearing enough clothing to appear in public.
8. Slang Terms great;
   wonderful.

• Latin decent- (stem of decēns) fitting (present participle of decēre to be fitting; see -ent), akin to decus honor
• 1485–95

de′cent•ly, adv. 
de′cent•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. seemly, proper, decorous.
• 5. apt, fit, becoming.

Antonyms

• 1. unseemly.
• 5. inappropriate.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

decent / ˈdiːs^ənt/ adjective

1. polite or respectable
2. proper and suitable; fitting
3. conforming to conventions of sexual behaviour; not indecent
4. free of oaths, blasphemy, etc
5. good or adequate: a decent wage
6. kind; generous
7. sufficiently clothed to be seen by other people: are you decent?

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin decēns suitable, from decēre to be fitting

ˈdecently adverb