Simple Definition of curtsy

from our Learner's Dictionary

curtsy

noun

variants also curtsey
plural curtsies also curtseys
: a formal way of greeting an important person (such as a king or queen) in which a woman shows respect by placing one foot slightly behind the other and bending her knees

Cite this Entry

“Curtsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/curtsy. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.

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