debonair

Also deb·o·naire,

[deb-uh-nair]

adjective

1. courteous, gracious, and having a sophisticated charm.

   a debonair gentleman.

   Synonyms: polished, elegant, suave, urbane

2. jaunty; carefree; sprightly.

debonair

/ ˌdɛbəˈnɛə /

adjective

1. suave and refined

2. carefree; light-hearted

3. courteous and cheerful; affable

Other Word Forms

• debonairly adverb
• debonairness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of debonair¹

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of debonair¹

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

Example Sentences

Though he bridled against the genteel expectations of his upbringing, he was popular and effortlessly debonair.

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As the movie goes on, it becomes apparent that she is present mainly because she wants to meet the debonair Rodgers.

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In 1914, the “Duke of the Pike” — a debonair character who lived large, mostly on brash cheek and bad checks — finally got caught when his car broke down in Compton.

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Vargas Llosa’s air of debonair intellectual only added to the package: a writer for the New Statesman once described him as “tall, good-looking and with the social graces of the Latin American elite.”

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Manilow asked the crowd of the debonair record executive who helped shepherd him to stardom.

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Related Words

• affable 
• dashing 
• suave 
• urbane