/ səˈvɪləti; NAmE / noun ( formal )
1.
[ U ] polite behaviour :
Staff members are trained to treat customers with civility at all times.
2.
civilities [ pl. ] remarks that are said only in order to be polite
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French civilite , from Latin civilitas , from civilis relating to citizens (from civis citizen). In early use the term denoted the state of being a citizen and hence good citizenship or orderly behaviour. The sense politeness arose in the mid 16th cent.