discourtesy

American  

[dis-kur-tuh-see] / dɪsˈkɜr tə si /

noun

discourtesies plural

1. lack or breach of courtesy; incivility; rudeness.

2. a discourteous or impolite act.

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discourtesy British  

/ dɪsˈkɜːtɪsɪ /

noun

1. bad manners; rudeness

2. a rude remark or act

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• discourtesies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of discourtesy

First recorded in 1545–55; dis- ¹ + courtesy

Explanation

Discourtesy is acting in a rude or thoughtless way. If you yell orders at your restaurant server and leave him a small tip, you're treating him with extreme discourtesy. The noun discourtesy is a formal way to say "rudeness" or "disrespect." Cutting in line, interrupting others, chewing with your mouth wide open, being late for an important meeting — these are all examples of discourtesy. Courtesy means "elegance of manners" or "politeness," from a root meaning "courtly manners." When you add the prefix dis-, "the opposite of," you get discourtesy.

Example Sentences

While there was "room to dispute" the allegations, "I sincerely apologise for the great discourtesy I have caused the public," she added.

From Barron's • Dec. 3, 2025

A vice foreign minister called in Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming and strongly protested what South Korea called "diplomatic discourtesy", the South Korean foreign ministry said in a statement.

From Reuters • Apr. 20, 2023

Between January 2017 and November 2020, 829 complaints, internal and external, were lodged against Tacoma police employees, most for unsatisfactory performance or discourtesy.

From Seattle Times • May 8, 2022

The brouhaha, especially the recent arrest at the School Board meeting, has left residents of all races, political loyalties and religious beliefs lamenting the disruption and discourtesy.

From Washington Post • Jul. 5, 2021

How could he refuse to drink without discourtesy?

From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman