# decent

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈdiːs(ə)nt/ · frequency rank #3,616

## Definitions
1. Appropriate; suitable for the circumstances.
2. Having a suitable conformity to basic moral standards; showing integrity, fairness, or other characteristics associated with moral uprightness.
3. Sufficiently clothed or dressed to be seen.
4. Fair; acceptable; okay.
5. Significant; substantial.
6. Conforming to perceived standards of good taste.
7. Comely; shapely; well-formed.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French décent, or its source, Latin decēns, present participle of decet (“it is fitting or suitable”), from Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- (“to take, accept, to receive, greet, be suitable”) (compare Ancient Greek δοκέω (dokéō, “to appear, seem, think”), δέχομαι (dékhomai, “to accept”); Sanskrit दशस्यति (daśasyáti, “shows honor, is gracious”), दाशति (dāśati, “makes offerings, bestows”)). Meaning ‘kind, pleasant’ is from 1902.

## Easily confused with
- **dent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decent-vs-dent)
- **deen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decent-vs-deen)
- **defeat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decent-vs-defeat)
- **defend** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decent-vs-defend)
- **desert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decent-vs-desert)
- **depend** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decent-vs-depend)
- **detect** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decent-vs-detect)
- **defect** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decent-vs-defect)
- **detest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decent-vs-detest)
- **descent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decent-vs-descent)
- **descend** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decent-vs-descend)
- **decently** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decent-vs-decently)
- **deceit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deceit-vs-decent)
- **decency** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decency-vs-decent)
- **decadent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decadent-vs-decent)

## Common misspellings (9)
`dceent`, `ddecent`, `deccent`, `decennt`, `decentt`, `decetn`, `decnet`, `deecnt`, `edcent`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/decent