civility
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
Civility, politeness, courtesy, and respect all refer to positive ways of treating others, but they differ in scope and formality. Politeness is the most everyday term — it covers basic good manners such as saying please and thank you. Courtesy suggests a specific considerate action, like holding a door open or giving up a seat, and is slightly more formal. Respect goes deeper, implying genuine admiration or regard for someone's feelings, rights, or abilities. Civility sits between politeness and courtesy in formality; it often refers to a social or institutional standard of respectful interaction, especially in public or professional settings. For example, one might say "The senator called for greater civility in political debate" — using politeness or courtesy in that context would sound less natural.
Etymology
Civility comes from Latin cīvīlitās, meaning 'civilized conduct' or 'courtesy', which itself derives from cīvis ('citizen'). The idea was that living in a city (cīvitās) required a certain standard of orderly, respectful behaviour. The word passed through Old French civilite before entering English in the 14th century. Originally it meant 'the condition of being a citizen' or 'civilized state', but by the 16th century it had narrowed to its modern meaning of polite behaviour.