Dictionary Definition
decency
Noun
1 the quality of conforming to standards of
propriety and morality [ant: indecency]
2 the quality of being polite and
respectable
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Translations
quality of being decent
- Czech: slušnost
- Finnish: säädyllisyys, soveliaisuus
- French: décence
- German: Anstand
- Hebrew: הגינות (haginut)
Extensive Definition
Decency is conformity to sociocultural
standards of conduct and speech.
Standards of decency vary greatly depending on
the cultural context. Most nations have laws against indecency which
regulate certain sexual acts, and restrict one's ability to display
certain parts of the body in public (see indecent
exposure).
Definitions of indecency in England and Wales
The terms indecency and indecent have wide application in English law, but are not defined in any legislation. Historically, the words' dictionary definitions (as opposed to legal definitions) helped to resolve legal disputes concerning the scope or application of the terms.- In R v Stanley (1965), Lord Parker attempted to differentiate indecency from obscenity:
- In Knuller v DPP, Lord Reid said that indecency includes "anything which an ordinary decent man or woman would find to be shocking, disgusting, or revolting."
- In R v Graham-Kerr (1988), Stocker L. J. said that the appropriate test in the case of the Protection of Children Act 1978 was the application of the "recognised standards of propriety" stated in R v Stamford (1972).
Obscenity is
defined in the Obscene
Publications Act.