plural niceties
1
: the quality or state of being nice
2
: an elegant, delicate, or civilized feature
enjoy the niceties of life
3
: a fine point or distinction : subtlety
the niceties of table manners
4
: careful attention to details : delicate exactness : precision
5
: delicacy of taste or feeling : fastidiousness
Phrases
to a nicety
: exactly, accurately
… liked doing a quiet business in which they were sure of their customers, and could calculate their returns to a nicety.—
George Eliot
George EliotSynonyms
Examples of nicety in a Sentence
knows all the niceties of diplomatic protocol
a woman too fond of the niceties of urban living to even consider becoming a farmer's wife
Recent Examples on the Web
There are also a range of niceties, including room to sleep four people, a bed that retracts to reveal a workspace, and a functional kitchen.
—New Atlas, 19 Jan. 2025
He is scheduled to ride to the building after meeting with Mr. Biden at the White House in the morning, a traditional nicety that Mr. Trump did not extend to Mr. Biden four years ago.
—Aishvarya Kavi, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025
Every look is not merely a social nicety, but an exchange, a currency between two people who are communicating solely through glances no matter what their actions or words articulate.
—Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
Meanwhile, Morgan became a reliable scene stealer in acerbic British comedies, often playing bluntly profane characters with little regard for social niceties.
—Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for nicety 
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New Atlas, 19 Jan. 2025
He is scheduled to ride to the building after meeting with Mr. Biden at the White House in the morning, a traditional nicety that Mr. Trump did not extend to Mr. Biden four years ago.
—Aishvarya Kavi, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025
Every look is not merely a social nicety, but an exchange, a currency between two people who are communicating solely through glances no matter what their actions or words articulate.
—Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
Meanwhile, Morgan became a reliable scene stealer in acerbic British comedies, often playing bluntly profane characters with little regard for social niceties.
—Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for nicety
Dictionary Entries Near nicety
Cite this Entry
“Nicety.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nicety. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nicety
noun
nice·ty
ˈnī-sət-ē 
-stē
plural niceties
1
: a dainty, delicate, or elegant thing
enjoy the niceties of life
2
: a small point or detail
niceties of table manners
3
: careful attention to details
nicety is needed in making watches
4
: the point at which a thing is at its best
roasted to a nicety
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