Synonyms

polite

American

[puh-lahyt] / pəˈlaɪt /

adjective

politer, politest

showing good manners toward others, as in behavior, speech, etc.; courteous; civil.

a polite reply.

Synonyms:

gracious, well-bred

Antonyms:

rude
refined or cultured.

polite society.

Synonyms:

cultivated, courtly, poised, polished, urbane
of a refined or elegant kind.

polite learning.

polite British

/ pəˈlaɪt /

adjective

showing regard for others, in manners, speech, behaviour, etc; courteous
cultivated or refined

polite society
elegant or polished

polite letters

"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

Related Words

See civil.

Other Word Forms

politely adverb
politeness noun
superpolite adjective
superpoliteness noun

Etymology

Origin of polite

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin polītus, past participle of polīre “to polish”; polish

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.

They are polite background noise — the culinary equivalent of a cubicle in a Schaumburg office park.

From Salon

Ethan stood and offered me a polite hand to help me up.

From Literature

His polite demeanor, impressive vocal range and dramatic rendition of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” earned him a devoted fanbase known as the “Claymates.”

From Los Angeles Times

Grok, powered by Musk’s xAI, is positioned as the raw alternative to its more polite competitors.

From MarketWatch

Japan's formalities -- from the complexity of polite language to extreme attention to detail in packaging or wrapping -- may surprise visitors, he said.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023