politesse
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of politesse
1710–20; < French: originally clean or polished state < Italian politezza, variant of pulitezza (derivative of polito polite )
Explanation
Politesse is another word for good manners or etiquette. Your grandparents might complain that the biggest problem with the internet is that there's just no politesse at all. Some other ways to say politesse are "courtesy" or "civility." It's a slightly fancy way to talk about treating other people politely and kindly. As you might guess, politesse shares a root with polite, the Latin politus, which means "refined" or "elegant." Especially in formal or solemn situations, it's important to treat others with politesse.
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.
The happy tourists don’t notice Park Chan-wook, the cinematic master behind such tours de force as “Oldboy” and “Decision to Leave,” projecting thoughtful politesse beside him.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 18, 2025
"I think when politesse is in conflict with the truth, I choose the truth," he said.
From BBC • Jan. 8, 2025
But Lorraine's politesse has limits, as a pair of Minnesota’s finest find when they pay a visit to her office to inquire about her daughter-in-law’s connection to a North Dakota crime.
From Salon • Nov. 29, 2023
For his part, the colorless Yvan, with his stiff politesse and old-world firm, presents the very picture of a useful patsy.
From New York Times • Sep. 9, 2021
Too much politesse, however, might poison a womans prospects for advancement.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
