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If you’re looking for a polite topic of conversation to raise at your next gathering of word lovers, we’ve got just the ticket. The French word étiquette means “ticket”; its direct French ancestor also referred to a label attached to something for description or identification. Spaniards of the 16th-century adopted the French word (altering it to etiqueta), and used it to refer to the written protocols describing the behavior demanded of those who appeared at court. Eventually, etiqueta came to be applied to the court ceremonies themselves as well as to the documents which outlined their requirements. Word of this linguistic development got back to the French, who then expanded their word’s meaning to include “proper court behavior” along with its “label” sense. By the middle of the 18th century English speakers had taken on etiquette as their own, applying it to the rules that indicate the proper and polite way to behave, whether in the presence or royalty or not.
Examples of etiquette in a Sentence
Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 21 Mar. 2025
Judith Martin, who runs the Miss Manners column, agreed with the father of the bride, noting that since a wedding did not take place, under etiquette rules, the presents should be returned.
—Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025
What is the etiquette for a patient who is a physician addressing the doctor providing care?
—Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2025
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Insurance expert Don Worley, president and managing attorney at McDonald Worley, and etiquette expert Jo Hayes weighed in on the situation with Newsweek.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for etiquette
Cite this Entry
“Etiquette.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/etiquette. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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