courtesy
English · Thesaurus
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courtesy
- /ˈkɜːtəsi/ UK
- /ˈkɝɾəsi/ US
Where it comes from
From Middle English curteisie, curtesie, from Anglo-Norman curtesie, from Old French curteisie, cortoisie. Equivalent to courteous + -y (abstract noun suffix). By surface analysis, court + -esy.
noun courtesies
- Polite behavior. Please extend them the courtesy of your presence.
- A polite gesture or remark, especially as opposed to an obligation or standard practice. I offered them a ride simply as a courtesy.
- Consent or agreement in spite of fact; indulgence. They call this pond a lake by courtesy only.
- Willingness or generosity in providing something needed. They received free advertising through the courtesy of the local newspaper.
- A curtsey. The lady drops a courtesy in token of obedience, and the ceremony proceeds as usual.
- The life interest that the surviving husband has in the real or heritable estate of his wife.
verb courtesies · courtesying · courtesied
- Alternative form of curtsey
adjective
- Given or done as a polite gesture. We paid a courtesy visit to the new neighbors.
-
Supplied free of charge.
The event planners offered courtesy tickets for the reporters.
Similar: complimentary, free of charge, gratis
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: good manners, politeness, courteousness, polite, courteous, civility, decency, deference, goodwill, comity, complimentary, friendliness, graciously, kindly, kindness, compliment
Translations
Every language
noun polite behavior
| Español | cortesía |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 예의 yeui |
| 日本語 | 愛想 aiso, 礼儀 reigi |
| 中文 | 禮貌 /礼貌 lǐmào, 禮節 /礼节 lǐjié |
| हिन्दी | सुशीलता suśīltā, विनय vinay |
| Português | cortesia |
| Français | courtoisie |
| Deutsch | Höflichkeit |
| Italiano | cortesia |
| Ελληνικά | αβροφροσύνη avrofrosýni, αβρότητα avrótita |
| Русский | ве́жливость véžlivostʹ, учти́вость učtívostʹ, обходи́тельность obxodítelʹnostʹ |
| Tiếng Việt | sự lịch sự, sự nhã nhặn |
| العربية | أَدَب ʔadab, مَجَامَلَة majāmala |
| עברית | אדיבות adivut |
noun polite gesture or remark
| 中文 | 禮儀 /礼仪 lǐyí |
|---|---|
| Português | cortesia |
| Français | politesse |
| Deutsch | Höflichkeit |
| Italiano | cortesia |
| Ελληνικά | αβρότητα avrótita |
| Русский | ве́жливость véžlivostʹ |
noun consent or agreement in spite of fact; indulgence
| Português | indulgência |
|---|---|
| Français | indulgence |
| Deutsch | Nachsicht, Kulanz |
| Italiano | cortesia |
| Русский | снисхожде́ние snisxoždénije |
noun willingness or generosity in providing something needed
| Português | cortesia |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | Gefälligkeit, Entgegenkommen, Großzügigkeit |
| עברית | אדיבות adivut |
adj given or done as a polite gesture
| Español | de cortesía |
|---|---|
| Português | de cortesia |
| Italiano | di cortesia |
adj free of charge
| Español | de cortesía |
|---|---|
| Português | grátis |
| Русский | беспла́тный besplátnyj |
Talk about this word "courtesy." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/courtesy. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. courtesy. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/courtesy "courtesy." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/courtesy.Cite this
@misc{courtesy_2026,
title = {courtesy},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/courtesy},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
