courtesy

American  

[kur-tuh-see, kurt-see] / ˈkɜr tə si, ˈkɜrt si /

noun

courtesies plural

1. excellence of manners or social conduct; polite behavior.

   Her unfailing courtesy made her easy to work with.

   Synonyms:

   urbanity, civility, courteousness

2. a courteous, respectful, or considerate act or expression.

3. indulgence, consent, or acquiescence.

   He is a “colonel” by courtesy rather than by right.

4. favor, help, or generosity.

   The costumes for the play were by courtesy of the local department store.

5. a curtsy.

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adjective

1. done or performed as a matter of politeness or protocol.

   The council member paid a courtesy call on the mayor.

2. offered or provided free by the management.

   While waiting to board the airplane, we were provided with courtesy coffee.

idioms

1. courtesy of, from or given by.

   This tip comes courtesy of our inside source.

courtesy British  

/ ˈkɜːtɪsɪ /

noun

1. politeness; good manners

2. a courteous gesture or remark

3. favour or consent (esp in the phrase by courtesy of )

4. common consent as opposed to right (esp in the phrase by courtesy ) See also courtesy title

5. an archaic spelling of curtsy

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Other Word Forms

• overcourtesy
  noun
• uncourtesy
  noun

Etymology

Origin of courtesy

First recorded in 1175–1225; from Middle English curteisie, from Anglo-French, from Old French; equivalent to courteous ( def. ) + -y ³ ( def. )

Explanation

A courtesy is a polite remark or respectful act. Complain about a bad meal, and you might get kicked out. But the common courtesy is usually an apology from the manager and, if you're lucky, a free dinner. Courtesy is all about using your good manners, which is why it shares roots with the word courteous. Holding the door open for someone, writing a thank-you note for a gift, and letting the pregnant lady have the last seat on the bus are all courtesies that would make your parents proud. And if something is kindly presented to you free of charge, the gift-giver may say it's "courtesy of" someone special.

Example Sentences

Courtesy of Trader Joe’s Irish supplier, the Garlic Butter Irish Potato Chips unite Ireland’s most celebrated spud-themed delicacies in holy matrimony.

From Salon • Jan. 28, 2026

Courtesy clerks at Stater Bros. across their 169 supermarkets bag groceries, help customers to their cars and clean checkout stands, according to the local United Food and Commercial Workers Union chapter that represents them.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2025

“The destruction of the human experience. Courtesy of Silicon Valley,” actor Hugh Grant wrote on the social media platform X, in a repost of Apple CEO Tim Cook’s sharing of the ad.

From Seattle Times • May 9, 2024

A second vessel - the Ocean Courtesy, traveling under a Marshall Islands flag - left the same port on Friday with 172,000 tons of iron ore concentrate.

From Washington Times • Sep. 2, 2023

“Here you go. Courtesy of the Green Howards.”

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

Related Words

• civility
• deference
• generosity
• kindness
• reverence
• sympathy