discourtesy
Americannoun
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discourtesies
plural
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lack or breach of courtesy; incivility; rudeness.
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a discourteous or impolite act.
noun
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bad manners; rudeness
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a rude remark or act
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of discourtesy
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
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
An exasperated Sir Lindsay said failing to do so was a "supreme discourtesy to the House" and he was "very, very disappointed" with Reeves.
From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2024
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
It was accounted great discourtesy to put any question to a guest before his wants had been satisfied.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
The movie chokes on its own dreary discourtesies.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 6, 2011
But it was the first air exposition that New York has had for almost eight years and 20,000 persons daily endured the active discourtesies of Grand Central Palace Exposition factotums to see the planes.
From Time Magazine Archive
You note the weaknesses of officialdom, the discourtesies, the disregard and lack of respect for the people.
From Time Magazine Archive
Many knowing Burmese were forced to hide a snicker when they heard that Chou had filed an official complaint about discourtesies appearing in the Burmese press.
From Time Magazine Archive
Though, I think, Our master cares not for her company, He would ill brook we should express so much By rude discourtesies, and short attendance, Being but servants.
From The Works of Charles Lamb in Four Volumes, Volume 4 by Charles Lamb
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