politesse
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of politesse
1710–20; < French: originally clean or polished state < Italian politezza, variant of pulitezza (derivative of polito polite )
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.
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
The background to all of this politesse, as the French newspapers made clear, was about nurturing a relationship that might have been strained by Brexit.
From BBC • Sep. 20, 2023
Barriers of language and resentment are difficult to surmount, especially when the acquaintance Freddie totes along to interpret pads their conversation with anxious politesse, making a frank talk frankly impossible.
From New York Times • Dec. 1, 2022
She’s an admirer of 19-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg, whose harsh criticism of world leaders’ slowness in reducing carbon emissions is a contrast to Goodall’s own calm politesse.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 9, 2022
With them I normally will observe the politesse of secular society concerning religion—say nothing about it.
From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez
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.
