decent

adjective

1. 1

   Appropriate; suitable for the circumstances.

2. 2

   Having a suitable conformity to basic moral standards; showing integrity, fairness, or other characteristics associated with moral uprightness.

   Zohran Mamdani is a decent man for not accepting the pay rise he’s entitled to, as he wishes to see that money go to the poor of New York.

3. 3

   informalSufficiently clothed or dressed to be seen.

   Are you decent? May I come in?

4. 4

   Fair; acceptable; okay.

   He's a decent saxophonist, but probably not good enough to make a career of it.

   A canister of flour from the kitchen had been thrown at the looking-glass and lay like trampled snow over the remains of a decent blue suit with the lining ripped out which lay on top of the ruin of a plastic wardrobe.

   And ‘blubbing’ . . . Blubbing went out with ‘decent’ and ‘ripping’. Mind you, not a bad new language to start up. 1920s schoolboy slang could be due for a revival.

   I'm all for opening new stations (Transport Scotland is planning another at East Linton, about halfway between Drem and Dunbar), but they are useless without a decent service.

5. 5

   Significant; substantial.

   There are a decent number of references out there, if you can find them.

6. 6

   Conforming to perceived standards of good taste.

   I had a cup of tea - the last decent cup of tea for many days; and in a room that most soothingly looked just as you would expect a lady’s drawing-room to look, we had a long quiet chat by the fireside.

7. 7

   obsoleteComely; shapely; well-formed.

   And ſable ſtole of Cipres Lawn, Over thy decent ſhoulders drawn.

noun

1. 1

   Variant of descentMisspelling of descent.

Forms

comparative

more decent

superlative

most decent