# modesty

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈmɒd.ə.sti/ · frequency rank #21,286

## Definitions
1. The quality of being modest; having a limited and not overly high opinion of oneself and one's abilities.
2. Moderate behaviour; reserve.
3. Pudency, avoidance of sexual explicitness.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French modestie, from Latin modestia; equivalent to modest + -y.

## Easily confused with
- **molest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/modesty-vs-molest)
- **moiety** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/modesty-vs-moiety)
- **Moresby** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/modesty-vs-moresby)
- **modest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/modest-vs-modesty)
- **majesty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/majesty-vs-modesty)
- **Modesto** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/modesto-vs-modesty)
- **modestly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/modestly-vs-modesty)

## Common misspellings (11)
`mdoesty`, `mmodesty`, `moddesty`, `modessty`, `modestty`, `modestyy`, `modesyt`, `modetsy`, `modsety`, `moedsty`, `omdesty`

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