discourteous

American  

[dis-kur-tee-uhs] / dɪsˈkɜr ti əs /

adjective

1. not courteous; impolite; uncivil; rude.

   a discourteous salesman.

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discourteous British  

/ dɪsˈkɜːtɪəs /

adjective

1. showing bad manners; impolite; rude

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Other Word Forms

• discourteously adverb
• discourteousness noun

Etymology

Origin of discourteous

First recorded in 1570–80; dis- ¹ + courteous

Example Sentences

"That would be discourteous towards the Russian Federation," he said.

From Barron's • Jan. 9, 2026

The panel said he also engaged in a pattern of improper remarks that “were discourteous and gave the appearance of bias to a crime victim, prospective jurors, defendants, attorneys and others.”

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 5, 2025

The film finds sufficient suspense in these negotiations and in Maitlis’s preparations for the encounter, a grilling that, in real life, she skillfully pulled off without ever registering as discourteous.

From New York Times • Apr. 4, 2024

Two complaints were substantiated: in 2011 for using discourteous language and in 2015 for abuse of authority, according to data from the city’s police watchdog agency, the Civilian Complaint Review Board.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 1, 2022

I am annoyed by those who love mankind but are cruel and discourteous to people.

From "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin