social niceties

Noun

social nicety (countable and uncountable, plural social niceties)

1. (countable) A social behavior that is engaged in for the purpose of being polite; an act that reflects refinement, decorum, and courtesy.
   • Behaviour in this sense is a very broad term, not limited to notions of politeness, etiquette and social niceties of which members of a culture are aware and might find wanting in a foreigner.1994, Michael Byram, Teaching-and-learning Language-and-culture, page 139
2. (uncountable) Adherence to the social norms associated with high social status.
   • There is the underlying irony that considerations of social nicety move the hostess, Fran von Brenkfeld to conceal Klemens's death and the Graf's illness under her roof from her guests.· 2007, Helen Chambers, Humor and Irony in Nineteenth-century German Women's Writing, page 19