gentleman

[jen-tl-muhn]

noun

plural

gentlemen 

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

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of gentleman¹

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

Synonym Study

See man.

Example Sentences

Mr Rose said Adams "was one of the warmest gentlemen you could wish to work with" and there was "nothing Tony couldn't do".

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There’s a moment in first episode of the third season of “Lupin” when Assane Diop, the gentleman thief audiences love, walks through a crowd that once idolized him.

Read more on Salon

A gentleman was exiting an office and we traded rounds of “good morning.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“I think Yamamoto is quite the gentleman, quite the high character,” manager Dave Roberts said.

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The viral clip of the show is the convenient entry point, but it sells short what the gentlemen have built.

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Related Words

• aristocrat 
• nobleman