uncivilly

Uncivilly is an adverb formed from the adjective uncivil, used to describe the manner in which an action is performed as lacking civility or courtesy. It refers to behavior that violates generally accepted norms of politeness in speech or conduct, rather than the action itself being unlawful. For example, one might say that someone spoke to another uncivilly.

Usage notes frequently indicate that uncivilly is less common in everyday English than synonyms such as rudely or impolitely. It tends to appear in more formal or analytic writing, where the author aims to emphasize the breach of social norms or civility rather than simply the rude quality of the behavior. In many contexts, writers may opt for the adjective uncivil or the adverbs rudely or impolitely instead, depending on the nuance desired.

Etymology-wise, uncivilly is built from the prefix un- attached to civil, with the suffix -ly forming an adverb. The word civil itself derives from Latin civis, meaning a citizen or a person belonging to a city, and, by extension, to public life and manners. The sense of uncivilly thus centers on the absence of expected courtesy in public or interpersonal conduct.

See also: civility, incivility, rude, etiquette, social norms.