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.

---

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

---

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

The tenant works in a restaurant, but everybody is a lawyer on the side, courtesy of AI.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026

There still is a way to insulate your bond portfolio from rising rates, courtesy of rate-hedged bond funds or ETFs.

From MarketWatch • May 22, 2026

Stress balls in the shape of footballs, courtesy of the Only Agency.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

"Mr. Musk, you are a brilliant man," said OpenAI's lawyer William Savitt, as he doubled down on his attacks, disguised with a show of courtesy.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

Then Barbara, not to be outdone in courtesy, came out of her pillow and with her tears still wet on her face, sat up and plucked off both her socks.

From "Mary Poppins" by P. L. Travers

Related Words

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