common courtesy
noun
: politeness that people can usually be expected to show
He didn't even have the common courtesy to say goodbye when he left.
Examples of common courtesy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ne-Yo is a man of the people, but not at the expense of common courtesy and respect.
—
Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 29 Sep. 2025
For most weddings, well-wishes for the newlyweds are a common courtesy.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 30 June 2025
This is a common courtesy extended to legends and top-tier talent.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
This is not just a common courtesy; the absence of a response is a surefire way to alienate your customer base and send them straight to competitors.
—Michael Podolsky, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
An offer of a handshake is not a common courtesy inside.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2025
Hayes firmly validated the woman's anger at Jake repeatedly using her bathroom, calling his actions a violation of common courtesy and respect.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
For the sake of common courtesy, North Americans used to their wide-open spaces and large personal space bubbles need to be spatially aware.
—Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2025
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Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 29 Sep. 2025
For most weddings, well-wishes for the newlyweds are a common courtesy.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 30 June 2025
This is a common courtesy extended to legends and top-tier talent.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
This is not just a common courtesy; the absence of a response is a surefire way to alienate your customer base and send them straight to competitors.
—Michael Podolsky, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
An offer of a handshake is not a common courtesy inside.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2025
Hayes firmly validated the woman's anger at Jake repeatedly using her bathroom, calling his actions a violation of common courtesy and respect.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
For the sake of common courtesy, North Americans used to their wide-open spaces and large personal space bubbles need to be spatially aware.
—Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Common courtesy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/common%20courtesy. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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