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

Derived Forms

• overcourtesy
  noun
• uncourtesy
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• courtesies
  plural

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

See Examples For:

courtesy courtesies

The secret was discovered when a courtesy phone call was made telling his mom about an injury.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026

Still, returning at the Open after missing almost five months is like leaping onto a speeding courtesy Benz.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

Talks began just days after the tournament, with Rodri's camp praising the courtesy, class and respect shown by the club throughout the negotiations.

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026

Get ready for his return with, courtesy of my colleagues, some good advice on potato salad, parenting, and pricey underwear.

From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026

From thence I went on to Carter Paterson’s central office, where I met with the utmost courtesy.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

“What she absorbed of my strain, despite the courtesies of our hosts, is exemplified by her acquisition of two ulcers, which put her in the hospital for weeks at the end of the trip.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

Despite early courtesies - India's then national security adviser Brajesh Mishra was the first foreign dignitary to congratulate Khaleda Zia - trust proved thin.

From BBC ● Feb. 14, 2026

You’re sitting in a room full of people who you want access to and you are observing the courtesies that are required to keep you in the room.

From Slate ● Nov. 17, 2025

But he said he had never known which works Bouvier was selling to Rybolovlev and that whatever he had done constituted accepted practices and courtesies undertaken by specialists selling works to a buyer.

From New York Times ● Jan. 17, 2024

Even in her confusion, she tried to remember the basic courtesies.

From "Gathering Blue" by Lois Lowry

Related Words

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