genteel
Americanadjective
-
belonging or suited to polite society.
-
well-bred or refined; polite; elegant; stylish.
-
affectedly or pretentiously polite, delicate, etc.
adjective
-
affectedly proper or refined; excessively polite
-
respectable, polite, and well-bred
a genteel old lady
-
appropriate to polite or fashionable society
genteel behaviour
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of genteel
1590–1600; < French gentil; see gentle
Explanation
Although the adjective genteel means high-class and refined, it is often used today in a somewhat mocking tone, as though good manners and elegance are passé. Still, it would be nice if more people were a little more genteel. The word genteel comes from the Old French word gentil, "high-born, noble." We can see the similarity to the word gentle, as in gentleman and gentlewoman. The word is especially powerful in describing Chaucer's Knight in the Canterbury Tales as "a verray, parfit gentil knyght" — "a true, perfect, noble knight," dignified, patrician, and as genteel as they come. Today, it describes someone elegant, fashionable, and well-bred. Picture someone in riding jodhpurs reading Town and Country while astride a magnificent show horse.
Vocabulary lists containing genteel
100 SAT Words Beginning with "G"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Johnny Tremain
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Real Nice!
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
After all, focusing resources elsewhere and letting CBS News continue its genteel decline would be sorely tempting.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
A century on, people’s perception of nonrhoticity changed again, as Irish and Italian immigrants in the American Northeast began to adopt local speech patterns, giving it a less genteel association.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 26, 2026
This is simply his pitch for escaping New York, but in a genteel manner.
From Salon ● Mar. 23, 2026
The winner Talarico, who has a Master of Divinity degree from a Christian seminary, offered a more genteel approach.
From BBC ● Mar. 4, 2026
You probably do not know much about this, because you have always been so closely watched by your father in that well-guarded house with your genteel mother.
From "Krik? Krak!" by Edwidge Danticat
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.
