polite

[puh-lahyt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR polite ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, po·lit·er, po·lit·est.

showing good manners toward others, as in behavior, speech, etc.; courteous; civil: a polite reply.

refined or cultured: polite society.

of a refined or elegant kind: polite learning.

Origin of polite

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin polītus, past participle of polīre to polish

Related formspo·lite·ly, adverbpo·lite·ness, nounsu·per·po·lite, adjectivesu·per·po·lite·ly, adverbsu·per·po·lite·ness, noun

Synonyms for polite

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR polite ON THESAURUS.COM

1. well-bred, gracious. See civil. 2. urbane, polished, poised, courtly, cultivated.

Antonyms for polite

1, 2. rude.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for politely

kindly, cordially, gently, respectfully, graciously, amiably, attentively, tactfully, courteously, agreeably, gracefully, affably, benignantly, civilly, compassionately, concernedly, considerately, elegantly, gallantly, sociably

Examples from the Web for politely

Contemporary Examples of politely

From behind a curtain, Trudeau is politely coaching the actors through the scene, encouraging them to go bigger.
Inside the Political Fun House: How ‘Alpha House’ Became Amazon’s First Big Hit
Kevin Fallon
October 24, 2014
After politely considering the idea, Stewart declined, the magazine reported.
Jon Stewart and 'Meet The Press' Would Have Been One Unhappy Marriage
Lloyd Grove
October 9, 2014
Demurely they poured drinks and politely tried to speak English.
Bar-Hopping With the Kyoto Geisha
Liza Foreman
September 1, 2014
We are now in day six of our on-air spring membership drive for WPNQ, and we really have to —politely!
How to Survive a Public Radio Membership Drive
Kelly Williams Brown
May 11, 2014
Prabhakar is politely being asked to vacate his city and his home.
India’s Newest State Telangana Is Bosnia Redux
Kranti Rai
March 22, 2014

Historical Examples of politely

"Your committee," said Mr. Durant, politely ignoring the manner of the questioner.
Ester Ried Yet Speaking
Isabella Alden
"You'll find a car a great comfort, I'm sure," he said politely.
K
Mary Roberts Rinehart
I don't like to say things like that, though I'm sure I always try to say them politely.
Quaint Courtships
Various
John politely asked Mrs. Bothwell to join them, but she declined.
The Foolish Lovers
St. John G. Ervine
Greeting me, however, cheerfully and politely, she at once entered into conversation.
In the Heart of Vosges
Matilda Betham-Edwards

British Dictionary definitions for politely

polite

adjective

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

cultivated or refinedpolite society

elegant or polishedpolite letters

Derived Formspolitely, adverbpoliteness, noun

Word Origin for polite

C15: from Latin polītus polished; see polish

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

Word Origin and History for politely

polite

adj.

late 14c., "polished, burnished" (mid-13c. as a surname), from Latin politus "refined, elegant, accomplished," literally "polished," past participle of polire "to polish, to make smooth" (see polish (v.)). Used literally at first in English; sense of "elegant, cultured" is first recorded c.1500, that of "behaving courteously" is 1748 (implied in politely). Related: Politeness.