nicety

UK: /ˈnaɪsɪtɪ/ US: /ˈnaɪsɪti/ ,(nī′si tē)

Inflections of 'nicety' (n): npl: niceties

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

ni•ce•ty /ˈnaɪsɪti/   n., pl. -ties. 

1. a delicate or fine point;
   a detail or subtlety:
   [countable] observing the niceties of polite behavior.
2. [uncountable] exactness or preciseness, as in workmanship;
   detail.
3. Usually, niceties. [plural] fine things:
   enjoying the niceties of life.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ni•ce•ty  (nī′si tē), n., pl. -ties. 

1. a delicate or fine point;
   punctilio:
   niceties of protocol.
2. a fine distinction;
   subtlety;
   detail:
   the niceties of the filigree work.
3. Usually, niceties. a refined, elegant, or choice feature, as of manner or living:
   working hard to acquire the niceties of life.
4. exactness or precision.
5. the quality of being nice;
   niceness.
6. delicacy of character, as of something requiring care or tact:
   a matter of considerable nicety.

• Old French niceté. See nice, -ty
• Middle English: silliness, extravagance, cleverness 1275–1325

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

nicety / ˈnaɪsɪtɪ/ noun ( -ties)

1. a subtle point of delicacy or distinction: a nicety of etiquette
2. (usually plural) a refinement or delicacy: the niceties of first-class travel
3. subtlety, delicacy, or precision
4. to a nicety ⇒ with precision