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debonair

[ deb-uh-nair ]
/ ˌdɛb əˈnɛər /
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See synonyms for debonair on Thesaurus.com
adjective
courteous, gracious, and having a sophisticated charm: a debonair gentleman.
jaunty; carefree; sprightly.
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Also deb·o·naire, deb·on·naire .

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”

OTHER WORDS FROM debonair

deb·o·nair·ly, adverbdeb·o·nair·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to debonair

affable, dashing, suave, urbane, buoyant, casual, cheerful, courteous, detached, happy, jaunty, lighthearted, nonchalant, pleasant, refined, smooth, sprightly, well-bred

How to use debonair in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for debonair

debonair

debonnaire

/ (ˌdɛbəˈnɛə) /
adjective (esp of a man or his manner)
suave and refined
carefree; light-hearted
courteous and cheerful; affable

Derived forms of debonair

debonairly, adverbdebonairness, noun

Word Origin for debonair

C13: from Old French debonaire, from de bon aire having a good disposition
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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