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"Our country soweth also in the field of our breasts many precious seeds, as … honest behavior, affability, comity," wrote English clergyman Thomas Becon in 1543. Becon's use is an early documented appearance of comity—a word derived from Latin cōmitās, meaning "friendliness, courtesy, or graciousness." Comity is largely used in political and judicial contexts. Since 1804, comity of nations has referred to countries bound by a courteous relationship based on mutual recognition of executive, legislative, and judicial acts. And, in legal contexts, comity refers to the recognition by courts of one jurisdiction of the laws and judicial decisions of another.
Examples of comity in a Sentence
Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
And there was all too much comity between the candidates on trade.
—The Editors, National Review, 2 Oct. 2024
While there is a near-universal agreement that the candidate who took the stage in Atlanta is unlikely to win against Trump, there is less comity in the position that anyone else can fare better.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 12 July 2024
Barrett said the case involving the presidential election called for comity.
—Ann E. Marimow, Washington Post, 4 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for comity 
Dictionary Entries Near comity
Cite this Entry
“Comity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comity. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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Legal Definition
comity
noun
called also judicial comity
compare choice of law, federalism, full faith and credit
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