definitions

genteel

[ jen-teel ]
/ dʒɛnˈtil /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR genteel ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

belonging or suited to polite society.
well-bred or refined; polite; elegant; stylish.
affectedly or pretentiously polite, delicate, etc.

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RELATED WORDS

noble, ostentatious, polite, elegant, aristocratic, stylish, refined, affected, artificial, chivalrous, civil, confined, courteous, courtly, fashionable, formal, graceful, hollow, intolerant, mannerly

Nearby words

genseng, genseric, gent, gent., gentamicin, genteel, genteelism, gentian, gentian blue, gentian family, gentian violet

Origin of genteel

1590–1600; < French gentil; see gentle

Related forms

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for genteel

British Dictionary definitions for genteel

genteel

/ (dʒɛnˈtiːl) /

adjective

affectedly proper or refined; excessively polite
respectable, polite, and well-breda genteel old lady
appropriate to polite or fashionable societygenteel behaviour

Derived Forms

genteelly, adverbgenteelness, noun

Word Origin for genteel

C16: from French gentil well-born; see gentle
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