comity

noun

co·​mi·​ty ˈkä-mə-tē  ˈkō- 

plural comities

1

a

: friendly social atmosphere : social harmony

group activities promoting comity

bipartisan comity in the Senate

b

: a loose widespread community based on common social institutions

the comity of civilization

c

: comity of nations

trans-Atlantic comity

d

: the informal and voluntary recognition by courts of one jurisdiction of the laws and judicial decisions of another

2

: avoidance of proselytizing members of another religious denomination

Did you know?

"Our country soweth also in the field of our breasts many precious seeds, as … honest behavior, affability, comity," wrote English clergyman Thomas Becon in 1543. Becon's use is an early documented appearance of comity—a word derived from Latin cōmitās, meaning "friendliness, courtesy, or graciousness." Comity is largely used in political and judicial contexts. Since 1804, comity of nations has referred to countries bound by a courteous relationship based on mutual recognition of executive, legislative, and judicial acts. And, in legal contexts, comity refers to the recognition by courts of one jurisdiction of the laws and judicial decisions of another.

Synonyms

• chime
• compatibility
• concord
• harmony
• peace

Examples of comity in a Sentence

the comity that has always existed among the town's houses of worship

Recent Examples on the Web

And there was all too much comity between the candidates on trade. —The Editors, National Review, 2 Oct. 2024

While there is a near-universal agreement that the candidate who took the stage in Atlanta is unlikely to win against Trump, there is less comity in the position that anyone else can fare better. —Philip Elliott, TIME, 12 July 2024

Barrett said the case involving the presidential election called for comity. —Ann E. Marimow, Washington Post, 4 July 2024

The gentle approach maintains comity with local partners and bolsters a narrative of cooperative partnership that legitimizes the entire advisory effort. —Rachel Tecott, Foreign Affairs, 26 Aug. 2021

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin cōmitāt-, cōmitās "friendliness, courtesy, graciousness," from cōmis "kind, obliging, gracious" (probably going back to Old Latin cosmis, of uncertain origin) + -itāt- -itās -ity

Note: The Latin word cōmis (Old Latin cosmis, assuming that this word in the Duenos Inscription has been correctly identified) has traditionally been analyzed as *co-smei̯- "draw one's face into a smile," with the Indo-European base *smei̯- "laugh, smile" (see smile entry 1)—though a derivational mechanism for turning such a verbal compound into an unsuffixed adjective is left unspecified. An alternative explanation as a denominal adjective "having/accompanied by a smile" is possible (of the compound type represented by Greek éntheos "full of/possessed by a deity"), though there is no Indo-European evidence for a corresponding noun *smi- "smile."

First Known Use

1543, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing comity

• comity of nations

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Kids Definition

comity

noun

co·​mi·​ty ˈkäm-ət-ē  ˈkō-mət- 

plural comities

: courteous behavior : civility

Legal Definition

comity

noun

co·​mi·​ty ˈkä-mə-tē, ˈkō- 

1

: comity of nations

2

: the informal and voluntary recognition by courts of one jurisdiction of the laws and judicial decisions of another

called also judicial comity

compare choice of law, federalism, full faith and credit