genteel

adjective

gen·​teel jen-ˈtēl 

1

a

: having an aristocratic quality or flavor : stylish

b

: of or relating to the gentry or upper class

a person of genteel upbringing

c

: elegant or graceful in manner, appearance, or shape

the genteel manners of an old southern gentleman

d

: free from vulgarity or rudeness : polite

2

a

: maintaining or striving to maintain the appearance of superior or middle-class social status or respectability

a shabby genteel mansion

b(1)

: marked by false delicacy, prudery, or affectation

was genteel on the surface, but had a hard heart

(2)

: conventionally or insipidly pretty

timid and genteel artistic style

genteelly

jen-ˈtē(l)-lē 

adverb

genteelness noun

Did you know?

Get Fancy With Genteel

The word genteel has some familiar English relatives, including gentle, gentrify, and gentility. All come from the Latin noun gens, used to refer to a group of related people. That word's plural, gentes, was used in Roman times to classify the people of the world, particularly non-Romans. Similarly, the English gentile refers to people who are not Jewish, or who don’t follow other specific religions. Many non-English words come from gens as well, including the Spanish gente, meaning “people.” To say gens has made its mark would be putting it gently.

Synonyms

• befitting
• correct
• de rigueur
• decent
• decorous
• nice
• polite
• proper
• respectable
• seemly

Examples of genteel in a Sentence

a person of genteel upbringing

She was born into a genteel family.

an elderly woman living in genteel poverty

speaking in a genteel accent

They lived in a more genteel era.

the genteel manners of an old southern gentleman

Recent Examples on the Web

This England are touring down under at the end of 2025 and as a preparatory test, the summer of 2024 could not have been more genteel. —Tim Ellis, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024

Currently, most gay filmmakers resort to politicized or flamboyant camp, so Merchant Ivory reports on men of the generation that, even during the AIDS crisis, chose genteel refinement as their preference and identity. —Armond White, National Review, 4 Sep. 2024

Duke Fakir, the stylish and genteel singer who nurtured the Four Tops’ legacy for seven decades, died at his home in Detroit on Monday morning from heart failure. —Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 22 July 2024

This is a world of genteel courtliness, in which regents exchange bows and endearments by day and send killers after one another by night in demonstrations of calculated, personal violence. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French gentil literally, "of aristocratic birth," going back to Old French — more at gentle entry 1

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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Kids Definition

genteel

adjective

gen·​teel jen-ˈtē(ə)l 

1

: of or relating to the upper classes

2

: elegant sense 1, graceful

3

: free from bad manners or bad taste

genteelly

-ˈtē(ə)l-lē 

adverb

genteelness noun