Courtesy Definition & Meaning

American

British

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms courtesy American [kur-tuh-see, kurt-see] / ˈkɜr tə si, ˈkɜrt si /

noun

plural

courtesies

1. excellence of manners or social conduct; polite behavior.

   Her unfailing courtesy made her easy to work with.

   Synonyms: urbanity, civility, courteousness

2. a courteous, respectful, or considerate act or expression.

3. indulgence, consent, or acquiescence.

   He is 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.

adjective

1. done or performed as a matter of politeness or protocol.

   The council member paid a courtesy call on the mayor.

2. offered or provided free by the management.

   While waiting to board the airplane, we were provided with courtesy coffee.

idioms

1. courtesy of, from or given by.

   This tip comes courtesy of our inside source.

courtesy British / ˈkɜːtɪsɪ /

noun

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. an archaic spelling of curtsy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

• overcourtesy noun
• uncourtesy noun

Etymology

Origin of courtesy

First recorded in 1175–1225; from Middle English curteisie, from Anglo-French, from Old French; equivalent to courteous ( def. ) + -y 3 ( def. )

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.

As part of her move to preserve limited funds, the agencies under DHS are suspending courtesy and family police escorts at airports for members of Congress.

From Barron's

The character, here played by a costumed actor, arrived courtesy of “Paddington the Musical,” which opened last year on the West End.

From Los Angeles Times

But the agency suspended “courtesy escorts,” such as those for Congress members.

From Barron's

This time his opening over cost only four, even that a boundary courtesy of a misfield.

From BBC

Hughes had blood in his mouth, and a fresh gap in his teeth wide enough to scoot a Vespa through, courtesy of a high stick to the mouth from Canada’s Sam Bennett.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• civility
• deference
• generosity
• kindness
• reverence
• sympathy

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.