adjective
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suave and refined
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carefree; light-hearted
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courteous and cheerful; affable
Other Word Forms
- debonairly adverb
- debonairness noun
Etymology
Origin of debonair
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English debone(i)re, from Anglo-French; Old French debonaire; the original phrase was de bon aire “of good lineage”
Explanation
Someone debonair is charming or suave. They have good manners, and they probably look good, too. This French word has a fancy feel to it, and it is a fancy kind of word. Being debonair is a specific form of being charming that applies mostly to men. When you're debonair, you impress women, other men, and pretty much everyone with your manners, wit, and style. Debonair is a little bit of an old-fashioned word. Old movie stars like Cary Grant were often called debonair, but not many people are today.
Vocabulary lists containing debonair
Positive Words to Describe a Person
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The Sun Is Also a Star
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Spy School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As the movie goes on, it becomes apparent that she is present mainly because she wants to meet the debonair Rodgers.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 16, 2025
“It was a very debonair thing to do.”
From Slate • Jul. 22, 2025
In the psychological thriller “Heretic” from A24, the typically debonair Hugh Grant turns diabolical, but like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, he’s disguised by a singular cardigan, one painstakingly selected by costume designer Betsy Heimann.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 17, 2024
This lack of social synchrony can land even the most debonair droid in the “uncanny valley.”
From Science Magazine • Mar. 29, 2024
His small mustache was trimmed and looked as debonair as ever.
From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
