pleasantry

noun

pleas·​ant·​ry ˈple-zᵊn-trē 

plural pleasantries

1

: a humorous act or remark : jest

2

: an agreeable playfulness in conversation : banter

3

: a polite social remark

exchanged pleasantries

Synonyms

• amenity
• attention
• civility
• courtesy
• formality
• gesture
• politeness

Examples of pleasantry in a Sentence

“how are you” is merely a social pleasantry

his after-dinner speeches usually include the sort of gentle pleasantry that raises a chuckle

Recent Examples on the Web

Usually, the weekly board meetings are dominated by pleasantries and unanimous votes. —Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2024

Would the two longtime adversaries spend the drive exchanging polite pleasantries about the Iberian Peninsula scenery? —Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 July 2024

Their light, harmony-laden fare evokes blue-sky airiness, front-porch pleasantries and all-ages barn dances. —Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2024

In contrast to the pleasantries and palatable language that typically fill the world of diplomats, wolf warriors employed a negative and, more important, emotionally evocative tone. —Tyler Jost, Foreign Affairs, 27 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pleasantry

noun

pleas·​ant·​ry ˈplez-ᵊn-trē 

plural pleasantries

1

: agreeable playfulness in conversation

2

a

: a humorous act or speech

b

: a light or casual polite remark