debonair

[ deb-uh-nair ]
See synonyms for debonair on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. courteous, gracious, and having a sophisticated charm: a debonair gentleman.

Origin of debonair

1
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”
  • Also deb·o·naire, deb·on·naire .

Other words for debonair

Other words from debonair

  • deb·o·nair·ly, adverb
  • deb·o·nair·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use debonair in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for debonair

debonair

debonnaire

/ (ˌdɛbəˈnɛə) /


adjective(esp of a man or his manner)
  1. suave and refined

  2. carefree; light-hearted

  1. courteous and cheerful; affable

Origin of debonair

1
C13: from Old French debonaire, from de bon aire having a good disposition

Derived forms of debonair

  • debonairly, adverb
  • debonairness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012