gentleman

American  

[jen-tl-muhn] / ˈdʒɛn tl mən /

noun

gentlemen plural

1. a man of good family, breeding, or social position.

2. (used as a polite term) a man.

   Do you know that gentleman over there?

3. gentlemen, (used as a form of address).

   Gentlemen, please come this way.

4. a civilized, educated, sensitive, or well-mannered man.

   He behaved like a true gentleman.

5. a male personal servant, especially of a man of social position; valet.

6. a male attendant upon a king, queen, or other royal person, who is himself of high birth or rank.

7. a man of good social standing, as a noble or an armigerous commoner.

8. a man with an independent income who does not work for a living.

9. a male member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives.

   The chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts.

10. History/Historical. a man who is above the rank of yeoman.

---

gentleman British  

/ ˈdʒɛntəlmən /

noun

1. a man regarded as having qualities of refinement associated with a good family

2. a man who is cultured, courteous, and well-educated

3. a polite name for a man

4. the personal servant of a gentleman (esp in the phrase gentleman's gentleman )

5. history a man of gentle birth, who was entitled to bear arms, ranking above a yeoman in social position

6. (formerly) a smuggler

---

Synonym Usage

See man.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• gentlemanliness
  noun
• undergentleman
  noun
• gentlemanlike
  adjective
• gentlemanly
  adjective
• ungentlemanlike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• gentlemen
  plural

Etymology

Origin of gentleman

Middle English word dating back to 1225–75; see origin at gentle, man

Example Sentences

Tadcaster's mayor Ricard Sweeting described the notoriously publicity-shy businessman as a "true gentleman" and a "man of principle".

From BBC • Jul. 1, 2026

But the day of the shoot — there was a biscuit rig on the car, and the gentleman working the biscuit rig did a test run and lost control of the car.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2026

The Monday-night regulars at Sullivan County come mostly for “the hang,” Mr. Coyne writes, in contrast to the friendly but eccentric old gentleman who comes by himself most evenings to putt on distant greens.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

"The audience was suitably appalled, although next to us a gentleman had an Apple Watch going off constantly and the couple behind me talked through the whole show."

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

“The young gentleman won’t be staying at the house, I take it?”

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• aristocrat
• nobleman