polite

adjective po·lite \ pə-ˈlīt \

|Updated on: 12 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: polite in a Sentence

Definition of polite

politer; politest

1 a : of, relating to, or having the characteristics of advanced culture

b : marked by refined cultural interests and pursuits especially in arts and belles lettres

2 a : showing or characterized by correct social usage

b : marked by an appearance of consideration, tact, deference, or courtesy

c : marked by a lack of roughness or crudities

polite literature

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politely

adverb

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politeness

noun

See polite defined for English-language learners

See polite defined for kids

Examples of polite in a Sentence

It was polite of him to hold the door for them.
Please be polite to the guests.
It isn't polite to interrupt people when they're talking.
She received some polite applause despite the mistakes in her performance.

Recent Examples of polite from the Web

Spencer was quiet, polite, and handsome in a way that turned heads, a man who favored snakeskin boots and colorful Perry Ellis shirts.

— barbara bradley hagerty, The Atlantic, "Can You Prove Your Innocence Without DNA?," 6 Mar. 2018
On the official website of the British monarchy, the advice is pretty simple: Be polite.

— maria puente, USA TODAY, "What to expect when the Trumps meet Queen Elizabeth II at her favorite castle," 11 July 2018
Baba Diri has a gentle, natural smile — the kind that tells you she doesn’t smile just to be polite.

— emily williams, BostonGlobe.com, "After losing her sight, legislator works to open center for the blind in Uganda," 26 June 2018
Instead, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen took charge, and let’s just say that Nielsen's performance was generally viewed as being pretty awkward, to be polite.

— graeme mcmillan, WIRED, "While You Were Offline: Melania Trump Catches Flack for Her Jacket," 24 June 2018
At the subsequent reception, the whole damn movie stops being polite and starts getting real.

— elizabeth holmes, Town & Country, "Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance," 14 May 2018
Hickok and Eleanor shared political and social ideas, but their personalities were very different: Eleanor was modest and unshowy, well educated and from polite society.

— mary kaye schilling, Newsweek, "'White Houses' Author Amy Bloom on Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok's Secret Love Affair," 14 Mar. 2018
My conservative friends who insist that Trump’s viciousness and oafishness are merely aesthetic concerns or questions of etiquette — the man of earthy authenticity offending polite society in Washington — are grievously mistaken.

— kevin d. williamson, National Review, "Enforcement, without Apology," 17 Jan. 2018
Last summer at a party on Long Island, the largely Manhattan crowd was surprised, but polite, when Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump were among the guests. . .

— WSJ, "Notable & Quotable: Take Back the Hamptons," 29 June 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of polite

Middle English (Scots) polit, Latin politus, from past participle of polire

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1500

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

polite Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of polite

civil, polite, courteous, gallant, chivalrous mean observant of the forms required by good breeding. civil often suggests little more than the avoidance of overt rudeness.

- owed the questioner a civil reply

polite commonly implies polish of speech and manners and sometimes suggests an absence of cordiality.

- if you can't be pleasant, at least be polite

courteous implies more actively considerate or dignified politeness.

- clerks who were unfailingly courteous to customers

gallant and chivalrous imply courteous attentiveness especially to women. gallant suggests spirited and dashing behavior and ornate expressions of courtesy.