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.

Bravo responded with a politer version in “Top Chef.”

From Salon

He saw no need at all to be polite.

From Literature

Or the way I decide it’s only polite to smile back, until the nun glares and clears the fatty phlegm from her throat.

From Literature

We came across one of them – a polite boy speaking good English who we cannot identify.

From BBC

“Polite too. Sparkle, did you hear how polite this one is?” she shouts back.

From Literature

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