courtesy

noun

cour·​te·​sy ˈkər-tə-sē 

British also ˈkȯ-

plural courtesies

1

a

: behavior marked by polished manners or respect for others : courteous behavior

b

: a courteous and respectful act or expression

2

a

: general allowance despite facts : indulgence

hills called mountains by courtesy only

b

: consideration, cooperation, and generosity in providing something (such as a gift or privilege)

also : agency, means

—used chiefly in the phrases through the courtesy of or by courtesy of or sometimes simply courtesy of

Synonyms of courtesy

• kindness
• service
• privilege
• grace
• indulgence

Examples of courtesy in a Sentence

Civilized life cannot be sustained without hypocrisy. A certain moral code, a degree of courtesy and decorum, are necessary to keep our instincts under a modicum of control. —Ian Buruma, New York Review of Books, 2 Nov. 2006

Cara, who, courtesy of the cat, had a run in her leggings, picked up the phone in a panic … —Helen Schulman, Wigwag, November 1990

"Coffee, sir?" asked a sailor. I nodded, still chilled. The courtesy, the ordinariness of these men was in the context somehow curious. —Fred Reed, Harper's, September 1988

I tried to persuade him that all that Hamish Hamilton had attempted to do was to extend the kind of courtesies which cultural institutions thought to be his due. —Isaiah Berlin, New York Times Book Review, 12 Apr. 1987

They treated us with courtesy and kindness.

She did it as a courtesy, not because she had to.

Everyone knows each other here, so we won't bother with the usual courtesies.

They shook hands and exchanged courtesies before beginning their discussion.

Recent Examples on the Web

This small, intimate hotel sits on a narrow parcel of land on the eastern shore of the lake and epitomizes high design inside and out, courtesy of the refined hand of Spanish architect Patricia Urquiola. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

Princess Charlene coordinated her shoes with her dress, wearing a pair of cloud blue leather slingback pumps courtesy of Gianvito Rossi — a favorite brand among other European royals like Kate Middleton. —Julia Teti, Footwear News, 2 June 2026

Plus, of course, big muscles courtesy of human action figure Nicholas Galitzine. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 2 June 2026

Within days, Comcast agreed to credit nearly the full cost of the phone back to his account, along with an additional courtesy credit. —Joshua Sidorowicz, CBS News, 1 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English corteisie, from Anglo-French curteisie, from curteis — see courteous

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing courtesy

• common courtesy
• courtesy call
• courtesy card
• courtesy phone
• courtesy title
• senatorial courtesy

Rhymes for courtesy

• curtesy
• discourtesy

Kids Definition

courtesy

noun

cour·​te·​sy

ˈkərt-ə-sē

plural courtesies

1

: courtly politeness

2

: a favor courteously performed

3

: a favor as distinguished from a right

a title by courtesy only