noun

nicety

NY-suh-tee/ˈnaɪsəti/

A fine detail or subtle distinction.

Aligning the fork precisely is a small nicety of the formal table setting.

An older woman makes a minute refinement to an already immaculate formal place setting, nudging one fork into exact alignment with its neighbor—a small nicety of presentation and etiquette.

Etymology

Formed from an adjective meaning “silly,” nicety originally meant “foolishness.” As nice developed senses involving precision and care, nicety likewise came to mean a subtle point or exact detail.

In context

Silent Sweet Revenge91:41

… not as a social nicety but as a clinical inquiry the way she had asked patients questions for 22 years expecting a real answer …

My Son Gave My Seat To His Wife’s Dog During The Evacuation—By Morning, He Had Called Me 93 Times...

More examples

The contract's legal niceties require a lawyer's careful review.
We agree on the plan but still debate a few niceties.
He observes the social niceties, including greeting everyone by name.

Forms

nicety · niceties

Similar words

nuance: Emphasizes a slight difference in meaning, feeling, or expression.
detail: Any individual feature, not necessarily a subtle or delicate one.