gentility

American  

[jen-til-i-tee] / dʒɛnˈtɪl ɪ ti /

noun

1. good breeding or refinement.

   Synonyms:

   propriety, decorum, grace, polish

2. affected or pretentious politeness or elegance.

3. the status of belonging to polite society.

4. members of polite society collectively.

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gentility British  

/ dʒɛnˈtɪlɪtɪ /

noun

1. respectability and polite good breeding

2. affected politeness

3. noble birth or ancestry

4. people of noble birth

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Other Word Forms

• ungentility noun

Etymology

Origin of gentility

1300–50; Middle English < Old French gentilite < Latin gentīlitāt- (stem of gentīlitās ), equivalent to gentīl ( is ) ( gentle ) + -itāt- -ity

Explanation

Anyone can be nice. Many people have good manners. But gentility is that rare kind of graciousness that is handed down from one elegant generation to the next. In the early 13th century, gentility described someone's social status, coming from the Old French word gentil, meaning "high-born, noble, of good family." Over time the word's meaning broadened to include those coming from a family whose members had a refined manner and an elegant way of expressing themselves — no title of nobility required, just as today anyone can be a gentleman (or woman).

Example Sentences

Through invented details of clothing, Ms. Ng points out, Gainsborough could “subvert the rigid rules of British social class,” elevating sitters into gentility.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

So what this shows about Richard Mack is that, in his eyes, one of the appeals of the constitutional sheriff movement is that they represent a sort of gentility that doesn't exist in policing anymore.

From Salon • Sep. 28, 2024

Described as a study of masculinity, the collection blended strength and gentility with a focus on refinement.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 22, 2023

Dr. Ash’s old-world affect tilts and curdles, his mien shifting from twinkly “Mad Men” gentility to something cooler and more menacing.

From New York Times • May 25, 2023

It was totally unlike them, this lapse from gentility, and it made them much more interesting.

From "Tuck Everlasting" by Natalie Babbit

Related Words

• aristocracy
• civility
• decorum
• elegance
• politeness
• propriety
• respectability