polite

adjective

po·​lite pə-ˈlīt 

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

politely adverb

politeness noun

Synonyms

• civil
• courteous
• genteel
• gracious
• mannerly
• well-bred

Choose the Right Synonym for 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.

a gallant suitor of the old school

chivalrous suggests high-minded and self-sacrificing behavior.

a chivalrous display of duty

Example Sentences

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 on the Web

Though initially obsequious, Patoff immobilizes his targets with polite menace, which Waltz maintains with atypical restraint. —Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 23 Feb. 2023

What would be a polite, respectful thing to say to my mother? —Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 18 Feb. 2023

What would be a polite, respectful thing to say to my mother? —Nicholas Ivor Martin And Jacobina Martin, oregonlive, 18 Feb. 2023

Use polite, courteous language when assigning projects or discussing your team's performance. —Janine Schindler, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023

One is the polite gentleman with a constant smile on his face. —Ryan Black, The Courier-Journal, 11 Feb. 2023

And yet torment ensued, as her Taco Bell co-workers sunk their teeth into her earnest and overly polite demeanor. —ELLE, 6 Feb. 2023

The creepiness is all the more insistent for being so rueful and polite. —Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2023

And unlike some of her grim, deadpan successors, Loring’s Wednesday is a polite, happy little girl who just happens to like decapitating her dolls. —Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

circa 1500, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing polite

• in polite society/company
• in polite company
• polite speech

• in polite society/company
• in polite company
• polite speech

Kids Definition

polite

adjective

po·​lite pə-ˈlīt 

politer; politest

1

: showing good taste or training : refined

polite society

polite forms of address

2

: showing consideration and courtesy : courteous

politely adverb

politeness noun