gentleman
Americannoun
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a man of good family, breeding, or social position.
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(used as a polite term) a man.
Do you know that gentleman over there?
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gentlemen, (used as a form of address).
Gentlemen, please come this way.
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a civilized, educated, sensitive, or well-mannered man.
He behaved like a true gentleman.
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a male personal servant, especially of a man of social position; valet.
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a male attendant upon a king, queen, or other royal person, who is himself of high birth or rank.
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a man of good social standing, as a noble or an armigerous commoner.
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a man with an independent income who does not work for a living.
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a male member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives.
The chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts.
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History/Historical. a man who is above the rank of yeoman.
noun
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a man regarded as having qualities of refinement associated with a good family
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a man who is cultured, courteous, and well-educated
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a polite name for a man
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the personal servant of a gentleman (esp in the phrase gentleman's gentleman )
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history a man of gentle birth, who was entitled to bear arms, ranking above a yeoman in social position
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(formerly) a smuggler
Related Words
See man.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of gentleman
Middle English word dating back to 1225–75; see origin at gentle, man
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.
This gentleman clearly enjoys his work in television news and finds it stimulating and exciting.
From MarketWatch • May 20, 2026
Nearby was an older gentleman standing tall with a bright red banner.
From BBC • May 7, 2026
“He can swear and still be a gentleman if he does it in a nice and benevolent and affectionate way.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026
“To have purported agents, gentleman in street clothes, executing an arrest, failing to identify themselves, not having previously announced themselves and asking the judge’s permission to take action in the courtroom is extraordinary,” she said.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026
Harriet could just answer, “Oh! dear, yes,” before the gentleman joined them.
From "Emma" by Jane Austen
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.
