adjective
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suave and refined
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carefree; light-hearted
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courteous and cheerful; affable
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of debonair
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”
Explanation
Someone debonair is charming or suave. They have good manners, and they probably look good, too. This French word has a fancy feel to it, and it is a fancy kind of word. Being debonair is a specific form of being charming that applies mostly to men. When you're debonair, you impress women, other men, and pretty much everyone with your manners, wit, and style. Debonair is a little bit of an old-fashioned word. Old movie stars like Cary Grant were often called debonair, but not many people are today.
Vocabulary lists containing debonair
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Debonair friends in London recoiled in horror when told of his pastime.
From The Guardian • Nov. 14, 2018
Debonair and well-spoken, Thae Yong Ho has over ten years experience working on UK and EU-related issues as a diplomat.
From Reuters • Aug. 17, 2016
A version of this article appears in print on April 19, 2014, on page D8 of the with the headline: Cheo Feliciano, Debonair Salsa Singer, Dies at 78.
From New York Times • Apr. 19, 2014
Debonair maitre d' Jon Sheard reminisced about wines of the Carneros region while pulling the cork on an Acacia pinot noir.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 24, 2010
When Withers retired, Simon followed him, and under Adelaide's window, and under her eyes, he boxed the ears of Philip, the Debonair.
From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 02, No. 13, November, 1858 by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
