polite Hear it!

polite Definition

po·lite (pə līt′)

adjective

  1. having or showing culture or good taste; polished; cultured; refined polite society, polite letters
  2. having or showing good manners; esp., courteous, considerate, tactful, etc.

Etymology: L politus, pp. of polire, to polish

polite Related Forms
po·lite′ly adverb po·lite′·ness noun
polite Synonyms

polite

modif.

  1. Courteous

    courteous, civil, obliging, thoughtful, mannerly, attentive, pleasant, gentle, mild, nice, considerate, solicitous, conciliatory, conciliative, bland, honey-tongued, amiable, gracious, cordial, good-natured, sympathetic, interested, smooth, chivalrous, gallant, diplomatic, tactful, politic, benign, propitiatory, kindly, kind, courtly, benignant, affable, agreeable, complaisant, respectful, amenable, courtly, well-bred, genteel, gentlemanly, well-mannered, well-spoken, ceremonious, formal, proper, punctilious, sociable, ingratiating, neighborly, friendly.

    Antonyms rude*, impolite*, insolent. *

  2. Refined

    polished, well-bred, cultured, urbane; see refined 2.

polite suggests a positive observance of etiquette in social behavior it is not polite to interrupt; courteous suggests a still more positive and sincere graciousness toward others that springs from an inherent thoughtfulness always courteous to strangers; civil implies merely a refraining from rudeness keep a civil tongue in your head; chivalrous implies disinterested courtesy toward women or devotion to the cause of the weak; gallant suggests a dashing display of courtesy, esp. to women her gallant lover

polite Usage Examples

Infinitive complement

  • ask: But once we were there they were too polite to ask us to leave.
  • say: He was just too polite to say: I'm too busy running the country to attend.
  • tell: The young think they will be young forever The old are too polite to tell them, no!
  • wait: Table manners In Romania: It is polite to wait until all the guests are gathered around the table before starting to eat.

Modifies a noun

  • applause: After a tedious set both Jenny and I were tired and managed only polite applause.
  • conversation: Whether partying with a screen siren or making polite conversation with Dublin's literary elite, the Westlife clan are there.
  • nod: Contents: Briony Amariel Avim Tarot glances around with a polite nod, moving away from the mirror.
  • greeting: Relationships: After a formally polite greeting Hotspur antagonizes Glendower - as if he fears to lose face before another renowned warrior.
  • manner: Answer your telephone call in a polite manner within 6 rings.
  • refusal: We've had a polite refusal from Baxter; contact him next year.

Modifying Another Word

  • unfailingly: Like the student musicians they were unfailingly polite, friendly, and helpful.
  • scrupulously: I can, when I want, be scrupulously polite.
  • terribly: Being terribly polite about it he offered, ' well, I have one of my own songs or a song about bananas ' .
  • too: He was just too polite to say: I'm too busy running the country to attend.
  • extremely: Mrs Rolph, 14 Dec 05 Both members of staff that we met were extremely polite & helpful.
  • very: You must always be very polite to the ladies.

Used with adjective complement

  • consider: Some moorings seemed to be closer to locks than we normally consider polite.
  • remain: The verb " vouloir " is also use to give a command and still remain polite.
  • seem: So his dance with four girls seemed polite, more than anything else, and he only woke up when the Queen Mother appeared.
polite Quotes

The English are polite by telling lies. The Americans are polite by telling the truth.

—Bradbury, Malcolm Stanley

The French are polite, but it is often mere ceremonious politeness. A Russian imbues his polite things with a heartiness that compels belief in their sincerity.

—Twain, Mark pseudonym of  Samuel Langhorne Clemens

To rest, the cushion and soft Dean invite, Who never mentions Hell to ears polite.

—Pope, Alexander

Democracy is not a polite employer† The only way out of elective office is to get sick or die or get kicked out.

—Hoover, Herbert Clark

What a polite game tennis is. The chief word in it seems to be 'sorry'and admiration of each other's play crosses the net as frequently as the ball.

—Barrie, SirJ(ames) M(atthew)