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

• uncourtesy
  noun
• overcourtesy
  noun

Inflected Forms

noun

• 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

Lopez will have ample opportunity to enjoy the verdant surroundings in Hidden Hills, courtesy of her new home’s “lushly landscaped private grounds,” which include “spectacular orchards with multiple fruit trees,” as well as staggering views.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026

Local and national media didn’t even bother with that courtesy during the GKN crisis, focusing mostly on Garden Grove, which is four times more populous.

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026

Organized in roughly reverse-chronological order by curator Katherine Brinson with support from Charlotte Youkilis and Bellara Huang, the solo show opens with a surprise courtesy of an unlikely source: Joan Miró.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

For now, leadership in the sector remains up for grabs, but quantum investors are riding a multiday high courtesy of the Commerce Department’s latest move.

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

But best of all, I think, is the simple advice given by the style book of a national newspaper: that punctuation is “a courtesy designed to help readers to understand a story without stumbling”.

From "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" by Author

Related Words

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