showing regard for others, in manners, speech, behaviour, etc; courteous cultivated or refined: polite society elegant or polished: polite letters
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
po•lite /pəˈlaɪt/USA pronunciation
adj., -lit•er, -lit•est.
po•lite•ness, n. [uncountable]See -poli-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- showing good manners;
courteous:a polite reply. - refined or cultured:polite society.
po•lite•ness, n. [uncountable]See -poli-.
po•lite
(pə līt′),USA pronunciation adj., -lit•er, -lit•est.
po•lite′ly, adv.
po•lite′ness, n.
- 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.
- Latin polītus, past participle of polīre to polish
- late Middle English 1400–50
po•lite′ness, n.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged well-bred, gracious. See civil.
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged urbane, polished, poised, courtly, cultivated.
- 1, 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged rude.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'be polite' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):