courtesy

UK: /ˈkɜː^rtɪsi/

US: /ˈkɝtəsi/

US: (kûr′tə sē or, for 5, kûrt′sē)

Inflections of 'courtesy' (n): npl: courtesies

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

cour•te•sy /ˈkɜrtəsi/   n., pl. -sies. 

1. good manners or social conduct;
   polite behavior:
   [uncountable] Treat everyone with courtesy.
2. a courteous, respectful act or expression:
   [countable* usually plural] exchanging a few courtesies.
3. [uncountable] favor, help, or generosity:
   The actors appeared through the courtesy of their union.

prep. 

4. courtesy of, [~ + of + object] thanks to;
   by the generosity of:
   The show comes live from Hollywood, courtesy of the Public Broadcasting System.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

cour•te•sy  (kûr′tə sē or, for 5, kûrt′sē), n., pl. -sies, adj. 
n. 

1. excellence of manners or social conduct;
   polite behavior.
2. a courteous, respectful, or considerate act or expression.
3. indulgence, consent, or acquiescence:
   a "colonel'' by courtesy rather than by right.
4. favor, help, or generosity:
   The costumes for the play were by courtesy of the local department store.
5. a curtsy.

adj. 

6. done or performed as a matter of courtesy or protocol:
   a courtesy call on the mayor.
7. offered or provided free by courtesy of the management:
   While waiting to board the airplane, we were provided with courtesy coffee.

• Anglo-French, Old French; see courteous, -y³
• Middle English curteisie 1175–1225

Synonyms

• 1. courteousness, civility, urbanity.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

courtesy / ˈkɜːtɪsɪ/ noun ( -sies)

1. politeness; good manners
2. a courteous gesture or remark
3. favour or consent (esp in the phrase by courtesy of)
4. common consent as opposed to right (esp in the phrase by courtesy)
   See also courtesy title
5. / ˈkɜːtsɪ/
   an archaic spelling of curtsy

Etymology: 13th Century curteisie, from Old French, from corteis courteous