gentleman

gentleman — noun

1. a polite word used when speaking to or about a man, especially in formal setting

1.nounB1
Definition

a polite word used when speaking to or about a man, especially in formal settings or with someone whose name you have not been told

Example

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our guest speaker for tonight.

formulaic opening 'Ladies and gentlemen'

A gentleman at the door is asking to speak with the manager.

polite reference to an unknown man

Common collocations
  • Ladies and gentlemen
  • gentleman caller
  • gentleman friend
Synonyms
  • man

    neutral alternative without the formality of 'gentleman'

  • sir

    used only in direct address, more deferential

Usage Note

This is the only sense used as a direct form of address. Compare with sense 2 (WELL-MANNERED), where 'gentleman' describes a person's character rather than serving as a polite label.

Common Mistakes

I saw a gentleman waiting for the bus this morning' (in a casual context).
I saw a man waiting for the bus this morning.
'Gentleman' sounds overly formal for everyday neutral references to a male person.

2. a man who demonstrates kindness, courtesy, and consideration toward others, espe

2.nounB1
Definition

a man who demonstrates kindness, courtesy, and consideration toward others, especially in social settings

Example

Cyrus held the door open for the woman behind him — a true gentleman.

used as a compliment after polite actions

Antonia's father is a kind gentleman who always listens carefully to others.

Common collocations
  • true gentleman
  • perfect gentleman
  • gentleman's agreement
Synonyms
  • gent

    informal British shortening, sometimes humorous or ironic

  • man of honour

    emphasises moral integrity alongside good manners; more formal

Antonyms
  • boor

    a rude or insensitive man

Usage Note

Frequently used with 'a' or 'true' as a compliment after someone performs a courteous action. Unlike sense 3 (HIGH SOCIAL CLASS), this sense has no connection to birth or wealth — it is purely about behavior.

Common Mistakes

He is a gentleman even though he forgot to say thank you.
He is a gentleman
he always remembers to say thank you.' — Calling someone a gentleman is based on consistently polite behavior, not used in contradiction to rudeness.

3. a person of the male sex whose family has a high position in society; in histori

3.nounB2
Definition

a person of the male sex whose family has a high position in society; in historical contexts, someone who owned enough land to avoid earning wages through manual jobs

Example

In Victorian times, a gentleman did not need to work for a living.

historical class context

The old manor house belonged to a gentleman from a wealthy landowning family.

Common collocations
  • country gentleman
  • gentleman of leisure
  • gentleman farmer
Synonyms
  • aristocrat

    more specific — a member of the nobility, whereas 'gentleman' can include the broader gentry

  • nobleman

    emphasises noble birth and title

  • member of the gentry

    formal phrase that matches the historical meaning closely

Antonyms
  • commoner

    a person without noble or gentry status

Usage Note

This sense is increasingly historical or literary in modern English. Today, it is mainly used when discussing past social structures. Distinguish from sense 2 (WELL-MANNERED), which describes behavior rather than birth — a man from a working-class background can be called a gentleman in sense 2 but not in this sense.

Common Mistakes

My friend is a gentleman because he dresses well and has nice shoes.
My friend comes from a family of gentlemen who have owned the estate for generations.
Sense 3 refers to social class and inherited status, not clothing or appearance.

4. a man employed by a wealthy or noble person to serve as a personal assistant, he

4.nounC1
Definition

a man employed by a wealthy or noble person to serve as a personal assistant, helping with tasks like dressing and grooming

Example

The duke's gentleman prepared his bath and chose his evening clothes.

occupational role: personal attendant

Femi served as a gentleman to a wealthy merchant in eighteenth-century London.

Common collocations
  • gentleman's gentleman
  • serve as a gentleman to someone
Synonyms
  • valet

    the standard modern term for a male personal attendant

  • manservant

    more general term for a male domestic employee

  • butler

    the chief male servant in a household, more senior than a valet

Usage Note

This sense is now archaic or historical in most contexts. The more common modern term for this role is 'valet' or 'personal attendant'. The term 'gentleman's gentleman' was a traditional phrase for such a servant.

Common Mistakes

The hotel gentleman brought us extra towels.
The hotel staff brought us extra towels.
'Gentleman' as a valet refers to a specific historical domestic role, not to any hotel employee.
Idioms

a gentleman/lady of leisure

idiom

A person who does not need to work for a living.

After retiring early, Uncle Tom became a gentleman of leisure.

Maya lives like a lady of leisure, spending her days at the spa.

Word family

  • gentlemanly
    adjectiveB2
  • gent
    nounC1
  • gentlewoman
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

When referring politely to a man, 'gentleman' conveys formality and respect, while 'man' is neutral and carries no special politeness. You would use 'gentleman' in formal contexts — for example, 'There is a gentleman waiting to see you' sounds polite and professional, whereas 'There is a man waiting to see you' is factual and carries no added deference. 'Sir', by contrast, is restricted to direct address only (never a third-person reference like 'a sir') and implies respect for authority or social standing. You would say 'May I help you, sir?' to a customer, but you would not say 'A sir is at the door.' For addressing a group, 'Ladies and gentlemen' is the standard formal opening, while 'Ladies and men' would sound odd.

gentleman ↗man ↗sir ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • Ladies and gentlemen
  • gentleman's agreement

Prepositions

  • of (gentleman of means, gentleman of leisure)

Etymology

Old FrenchAnglo-NormanMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'gentleman' comes from the Old French phrase 'gentil hom', meaning a man of noble birth. 'Gentil' originally meant 'of noble family' or 'well-born', and 'hom' meant 'man'. In the Middle English period it was spelled 'gentilman', referring to a man of good family. Over the centuries the meaning expanded: by the 19th century, a gentleman could also be judged by his manners and behavior, not just his birth. This dual sense — social class and good conduct — has survived into modern English.