polite

[ puh-lahyt ]

/ pəˈlaɪt /

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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.

Nearby words

polished, polished rice, polit., polit. econ., politburo, polite, politely, politesse, politian, politic, political

Origin of polite

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

SYNONYMS FOR polite

1 well-bred, gracious. See civil.

2 urbane, polished, poised, courtly, cultivated.

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ANTONYMS FOR polite

1, 2 rude.

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Related forms

po·lite·ly, adverbpo·lite·ness, nounsu·per·po·lite, adjectivesu·per·po·lite·ly, adverb

su·per·po·lite·ness, noun

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

Examples from the Web for politeness

Humor, blue eyes, and Midwestern politeness: what more could the ladies (and a good portion of the men) of New York want?
The Captain’s Log: Derek Jeter’s Lady-Killing Past, From ‘Yeah, Jeets!’ to Gift Baskets|Emily Shire|September 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Until of course even they reach the limit of their politeness.
11 Best Monty Python Moments|Natasha Bach|November 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He parried every question and implication that Wallace threw at him with equanimity, humility, politeness, and even humor.
Was Mike Wallace’s Toughest Interview a 12-Year-Old Kid?|Catie Lazarus|April 14, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Used as a humorously exaggerated formula of politeness when refusing food.
Wunnerfitz! Sollybuster! The Fun of the Dictionary of American Regional English|Ammon Shea|April 12, 2012|DAILY BEAST

In a later scene when Smiley interrogates Haydon, they never break through the barrier of politeness.
‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy’: Oscar Nominees Gary Oldman and Peter Straughan|Lorenza Muñoz|February 15, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The captain was on hand and greeted him with a certain awkward courtesy, for politeness was not in his line.
Frontier Boys in Frisco|Wyn Roosevelt
There was no situation, however delicate, that they did not save through tact and politeness.
The Old Furniture Book|N. Hudson Moore
People who make a superstition of politeness infallibly lose the higher courtesy of truth.
The Invader|Margaret L. Woods
Horace treated Mrs. Anderson and the Major with all the politeness he could muster.
Battling the Clouds|Captain Frank Cobb
Meekest man I ever saw, and ought to have a monument for politeness.
Dave Porter in the Far North|Edward Stratemeyer

British Dictionary definitions for politeness

polite

/ (pəˈlaɪt) /

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 politeness

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.

polite

adjective, po·lit·er, po·lit·est.

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Origin of polite

Examples from the Web for politeness

British Dictionary definitions for politeness

polite

adjective

Word Origin for polite

Word Origin and History for politeness

polite