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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
Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Jo Hayes is an etiquette expert, consultant, and the founder of Etiquette Expert.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Apr. 2025
Jackie Vernon-Thompson is a certified etiquette expert and the founder and owner of From the Inside-Out School of Etiquette.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2025
Sallas and his team cater to both beginner and intermediate riders, educating on everything from surf etiquette and wave knowledge to performing more advanced maneuvers like cutbacks and snaps.
—Jen Murphy, Outside Online, 15 Apr. 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 23 Apr. 2025.
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