Explanation at your level:
You use decent when something is good. If you have a decent breakfast, it means you have a nice breakfast. It is a happy, positive word.
When you want to say something is okay or good, you can say it is decent. For example, 'I have a decent computer' means my computer works well and I am happy with it.
Decent is used to describe things that meet your expectations. If a hotel is decent, it is clean and comfortable. It is a very common word in daily English to show that you are satisfied with a situation.
You use decent when you want to be polite but not overly enthusiastic. It implies a standard of quality that is respectable. It is often used to describe work, behavior, or physical objects.
In advanced English, decent can imply a sense of moral integrity. Describing someone as a decent human being highlights their ethical standards. It is a nuanced word that balances objective quality with subjective approval.
The etymological roots of decent imply 'fitting' or 'becoming.' In sophisticated discourse, it can describe an aesthetic or moral alignment with social norms. It is a staple of understated, high-register English.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Satisfactory quality
- Respectable behavior
- Common adjective
- Easy to use
When you call something decent, you are giving it a thumbs-up for being good enough. It is not necessarily amazing or world-class, but it definitely isn't bad.
Think of it as the goldilocks of adjectives: it is just right for many situations. Whether you are talking about a decent meal or a decent person, you are expressing that the subject meets a standard of quality or kindness that makes you feel satisfied.
The word decent comes from the Latin word decere, which means 'to be fitting' or 'to be seemly.' It made its way into English via the French word décent in the 16th century.
Originally, it was used to describe things that were socially appropriate or modest. Over time, the meaning shifted to include general quality, which is why we use it today to describe everything from a decent salary to a decent movie.
You can use decent in almost any context, from casual chats to professional settings. It is a very versatile word.
Commonly, it is used before a noun, like a decent job or a decent amount of time. It is slightly more informal than 'satisfactory' but more precise than just saying 'okay.'
While 'decent' isn't always the star of an idiom, it appears in phrases like 'a decent living' (earning enough money to survive comfortably) or 'decent interval' (waiting a polite amount of time before doing something).
You might also hear 'decent sort', which is a friendly way to describe a reliable and kind person.
Decent is a simple adjective. It does not have a plural form because it describes nouns. You can use it with adverbs like fairly or pretty to soften or strengthen the meaning.
Pronounced dee-sent, it rhymes with 'recent' or 'frequent' (in some dialects). The stress is always on the first syllable.
Fun Fact
It shares a root with 'decorum'.
Pronunciation Guide
dee-sent
dee-sent
Common Errors
- stressing second syllable
- confusing with descent
- pronouncing the 'c' as 'k'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Adjective placement
A decent car.
Examples by Level
This is a decent apple.
a good apple
adjective before noun
He is a decent man.
a good man
adjective before noun
The food is decent.
the food is good
linking verb
I have a decent job.
a good job
adjective before noun
The weather is decent.
the weather is okay
linking verb
It is a decent book.
a good book
adjective before noun
We had a decent time.
we had fun
adjective before noun
She is a decent person.
a kind person
adjective before noun
The car is in decent condition.
He earns a decent salary.
We found a decent hotel.
She did a decent job on the project.
They live in a decent house.
The coffee is quite decent.
It was a decent performance.
I need a decent pair of shoes.
He is a decent sort of guy.
The film was decent, but not great.
We waited a decent amount of time.
She has a decent grasp of Spanish.
It is hard to find decent help these days.
He made a decent attempt to fix it.
The pay is decent for this industry.
They provided a decent service.
He is a decent human being who cares about others.
The company offers a decent package of benefits.
I think it is only decent to apologize.
She has a decent chance of winning the race.
We had a decent view of the mountains.
The restaurant serves decent food at a fair price.
He has a decent amount of experience in sales.
It is a decent way to spend a Saturday.
His behavior was hardly decent under the circumstances.
She maintains a decent standard of living despite the crisis.
It is a decent enough proposal to warrant further study.
He is a decent scholar with a sharp mind.
The project requires a decent level of commitment.
They reached a decent compromise after hours of talk.
It is a decent reflection of his true character.
The evidence provides a decent basis for our theory.
His conduct was far from decent, given his position of power.
The architectural design is decent, though lacking in flair.
She possesses a decent knowledge of the classical canon.
It is a decent approximation of the original text.
The committee made a decent effort to remain impartial.
He is a decent fellow, if a bit eccentric.
The results are decent, considering the constraints.
It is a decent interpretation of the complex data.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"a decent interval"
a polite wait
He waited a decent interval before calling.
formal""
""
""
""
Easily Confused
similar sound
descent is a noun (going down)
The descent was steep.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + is + decent
The movie is decent.
Word Family
Nouns
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
8
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
decent is an adjective, not an adverb
Tips
Native usage
Use it to be polite.
Adjective rule
Put it before the noun.
Did you know?
It comes from Latin.
Study smart
Use it with 'a' and 'an'.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
DE-CENT: He has a DEcent amount of CENTs (money).
Visual Association
A person giving a thumbs up.
Word Web
Challenge
Use 'decent' three times today.
Word Origin
Latin
Original meaning: fitting or becoming
Cultural Context
None
Used to show modesty or polite approval.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Work
- decent pay
- decent work
- decent effort
Conversation Starters
"How was your day? Was it decent?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a decent meal you had.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsYes, it means satisfactory.
Test Yourself
That is a ___ meal.
decent means good
What does decent mean?
decent is satisfactory
Decent means excellent.
decent means good enough, not perfect
Word
Meaning
synonyms
Subject-Verb-Adjective-Noun
Score: /5
Summary
Decent means good enough to be acceptable.
- Satisfactory quality
- Respectable behavior
- Common adjective
- Easy to use
Native usage
Use it to be polite.
Adjective rule
Put it before the noun.
Did you know?
It comes from Latin.
Study smart
Use it with 'a' and 'an'.
