When you do not really like someone very much but you manage to treat him politely, greeting him and behaving in a socially acceptable way, this is an example of civility.
- politeness, esp. in a merely formal way
- a civil, or polite, act or utterance
Origin of civilityMiddle English civilite ; from Old French ; from Classical Latin civilitas (; from civilis, civil), politics, hence politic behavior, politeness
- Courteous behavior; politeness.
- A courteous act or utterance.
(countable and uncountable, plural civilities)