courtesy

1 of 2

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

courtesy

2 of 2

adjective

cour·​te·​sy ˈkər-tə-sē 

 British also  ˈkȯ-

: granted, provided, or performed as a courtesy or by way of courtesy (see courtesy entry 1)

made a courtesy call on the ambassador

Synonyms

Noun

• kindness
• service
• privilege
• grace
• indulgence

Examples of courtesy in a Sentence

Noun

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.

Adjective

As the heir to an earldom, Stephen was obliged to pay a courtesy call on the British ambassador … —Ken Follett, The Man from St. Petersburg, 1982

Important visitors to the conference were provided with courtesy cars.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The royal family’s official website explains that there are no strict codes of conduct for meeting royals, only suggested traditional courtesies. —Janine Henni, People.com, 8 July 2025

The latest warning comes courtesy of ThreatFabric, which has been tracking Anatsa for years. —Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025

Adjective

All salary and buyout data are courtesy of PuckPedia and CapWages. —Harman Dayal, New York Times, 19 June 2025

Equal parts hydrating, soothing, and nourishing, the French-pharmacy classic restores bouncy volume to the skin while smoothing out fine lines courtesy of pure hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5, madecassoside. —Jenny Berg, Vogue, 13 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

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

First Known Use

Noun

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

Adjective

1613, in the meaning defined above

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