courtesy

noun cour·te·sy \ ˈkər-tə-sē , British also ˈkȯ- \

Updated on: 19 Apr 2018

Definition of courtesy

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

See courtesy defined for English-language learners

See courtesy defined for kids

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 of courtesy from the Web

With supermodels, aristocrats, and starlets filling the Metropolitan Opera, the competition for best dressed was stiff, though ultimately the night’s highlight came courtesy of Hollywood royalty.

— janelle okwodu, Vogue, "Catherine Zeta-Jones and Carys Douglas Nail Mother-Daughter Style at the Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda Show," 9 Apr. 2018
This week’s star power comes courtesy of the renowned German tenor Jonas Kaufmann, who is singing his first Tristan, opposite the Finnish soprano Camilla Nylund, also making her role debut.

— jeremy eichler, BostonGlobe.com, "The BSO offers Wagner’s ‘shivery and sweet infinity’," 6 Apr. 2018
One of the biggest jumps from this season to next could come courtesy of LSU.

— molly geary, SI.com, "Way-Too-Early Top 25: Ranking the 2018-19 College Basketball Season's Leading Contenders," 3 Apr. 2018
The game-winning hit came courtesy of Castellanos' RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning.

— anthony fenech, Detroit Free Press, "Ron Gardenhire, Detroit Tigers (finally) able to celebrate first 2018 win," 2 Apr. 2018
This post-signing day ranking comes courtesy of Bill Bender at Sporting News.

— peter dawson, star-telegram, "Where do TCU, Texas, and A&M rank in way-too-early CFB top 25? | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 19 Mar. 2018
The ad comes courtesy of the Asian American Small Business Political Action Committee, one of scores of campaign organizations that by law must be disconnected from candidates who may benefit from their spending.

— dan morain, San Francisco Chronicle, "How Newsom backers helped pay for an anti-Newsom ad," 18 Mar. 2018
Matt Stone, Louisville Courier Journal & NCAA BOISE, Idaho — Controversy at the NCAA Tournament this week came courtesy of Buffalo basketball coach Nate Oats.

— fletcher page, The Courier-Journal, "Buffalo coach Nate Oats: John 'Calipari's been whining' about youth and inexperience," 16 Mar. 2018
Three days of glorious sunshine and mild temperatures are coming our way, courtesy of Mother Nature.

— d. kwas, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Weekend weather: Get out and enjoy the sun," 1 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'courtesy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of courtesy

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

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First Known Use: 13th century

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courtesy Synonyms

courtesy

adjective cour·te·sy \ ˈkər-tə-sē , British also ˈkȯ- \

Definition of courtesy

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

made a courtesy call on the ambassador

See courtesy defined for English-language learners

Examples of courtesy in a Sentence

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.