plural courtesies
1
: polite behavior that shows respect for other people
They treated us with courtesy and kindness.
He didn't even have the common courtesy [=he was not even as polite as people can usually be expected to be] to say goodbye when he left.
2
a
: something that you do because it is polite, kind, etc.
She did it as a courtesy, not because she had to.
b
: something that you say to be polite especially when you meet someone
Everyone knows each other here, so we won't bother with the usual courtesies.
They shook hands and exchanged courtesies before beginning their discussion.
always used before a noun
1
: done in order to be polite
They paid a courtesy call on the ambassador. [=they visited the ambassador because it was the polite thing to do]
2
: provided for free
Important visitors to the conference were provided with courtesy cars.
He picked up the airport courtesy phone [=a telephone that customers can use to call the company that provides it] to call for a car.
Cite this Entry
“Courtesy.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/courtesy. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.
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