polite

adjective

po·​lite pə-ˈlīt How to pronounce polite (audio)
politer; politest
1
a
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of advanced culture
b
: marked by refined cultural interests and pursuits especially in arts and belles lettres
2
a
: showing or characterized by correct social usage
b
: marked by an appearance of consideration, tact, deference, or courtesy
c
: marked by a lack of roughness or crudities
polite literature
politely adverb
politeness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for polite

civil, polite, courteous, gallant, chivalrous mean observant of the forms required by good breeding.

civil often suggests little more than the avoidance of overt rudeness.

owed the questioner a civil reply

polite commonly implies polish of speech and manners and sometimes suggests an absence of cordiality.

if you can't be pleasant, at least be polite

courteous implies more actively considerate or dignified politeness.

clerks who were unfailingly courteous to customers

gallant and chivalrous imply courteous attentiveness especially to women.

gallant suggests spirited and dashing behavior and ornate expressions of courtesy.

a gallant suitor of the old school

chivalrous suggests high-minded and self-sacrificing behavior.

a chivalrous display of duty

Examples of polite in a Sentence

It was polite of him to hold the door for them. Please be polite to the guests. It isn't polite to interrupt people when they're talking. She received some polite applause despite the mistakes in her performance.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Wiley, wearing similarly busy patchwork jeans, continues his polite but half-hearted tour. Rachel Corbett, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2024 Just don’t expect anything polite enough to air on Masterpiece. Judy Berman, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024 From intrusive questions about her virginity to men twice her age discounting her work, she remained mostly posed and polite until her next studio offering: 2001’s Britney. James Dinh, Billboard, 29 Oct. 2024 It’s just usually called something more polite: illusion. Tomas Weber, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for polite 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English (Scots) polit, Latin politus, from past participle of polire

First Known Use

circa 1500, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of polite was circa 1500

Dictionary Entries Near polite

Cite this Entry

“Polite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polite. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

polite

adjective
po·​lite pə-ˈlīt How to pronounce polite (audio)
politer; politest
1
: showing good taste or training : refined
polite society
polite forms of address
2
: showing consideration and courtesy : courteous
politely adverb
politeness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on polite

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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