polite

polite — adjective

1. using good manners and trying not to upset or embarrass other people.

1.adjectiveA2
Definition

using good manners and trying not to upset or embarrass other people.

Example

Nina was polite to the waiter, even after the wrong order arrived.

be polite to + person

A polite email thanked every volunteer after the school market.

polite + communication noun

Common collocations
  • be polite to someone
  • polite question
  • polite request
  • polite answer
  • polite tone
Synonyms
  • courteous

    more formal; common in service or official situations

  • respectful

    focuses more on showing regard, especially to authority or older people

  • well-mannered

    describes a person's general upbringing and habits

  • considerate

    goes further by suggesting active thought about other people's comfort

Antonyms
  • rude

    not showing basic good manners

  • impolite

    a direct opposite, often used in slightly more formal contexts

Grammar Patterns

be polite to + person

a polite question/request/answer

be polite when + clause

Usage Note

Often followed by 'to' when you name the person receiving the behaviour: be polite to a teacher, neighbour, or customer. Distinguish from sense 2, which can describe correct but distant behaviour with little real warmth.

Common Mistakes

Be polite with the driver.
Be polite to the driver.
use 'polite to' for the person you are speaking to.

2. acting properly and speaking pleasantly, but without real warmth or friendship.

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

acting properly and speaking pleasantly, but without real warmth or friendship.

Example

Lena's polite smile ended the talk, but she did not invite us in.

polite smile with social distance

The clerk gave a polite reply and turned to the next customer.

polite reply without continued interest

Common collocations
  • polite smile
  • polite reply
  • polite conversation
  • polite refusal
  • polite interest
Synonyms
  • civil

    correct and controlled, often when people are not close

  • formal

    focuses on stiffness or distance more than manners

  • correct

    stresses following social rules

  • diplomatic

    suggests careful wording to avoid conflict

Antonyms
  • warm

    friendly and emotionally open

  • friendly

    shows real welcome or personal liking

Grammar Patterns

a polite smile/reply/refusal

stay polite

polite but + adjective

Usage Note

Often used with nouns like 'smile', 'interest', 'conversation', and 'refusal'. Distinguish from sense 1: here the speaker may sound correct on the surface, but the behaviour can feel distant or merely formal.

Common Mistakes

The receptionist was polite, so she wanted to chat with us.
The receptionist was polite, but she did not want to chat with us.
in this sense, 'polite' does not imply warmth or personal interest.

3. used for upper social circles that see themselves as refined, proper, and above

3.adjectiveC1
Definition

used for upper social circles that see themselves as refined, proper, and above ordinary people.

Example

The scandal shocked polite society across London that summer.

fixed phrase: polite society

In polite company, Grandpa never mentioned money or politics.

fixed phrase: polite company

Common collocations
  • polite society
  • polite company
  • in polite society
  • member of polite society
Synonyms
  • high-society

    closer to modern everyday wording for fashionable upper-class circles

  • upper-class

    broader; refers to social rank, not specifically manners or social circles

  • elite

    can refer to powerful or successful groups, not only social class

Grammar Patterns

polite society

polite company

in polite society

Usage Note

Mostly found in fixed expressions such as 'polite society' and 'polite company'. It refers to an upper-class social world with ideas about proper behaviour, not simply to any group of well-mannered people.

Common Mistakes

My neighbourhood is polite society.
Several members of polite society attended the charity ball.
this sense names an upper-class social circle, not society in general.

Word family

  • politely
    adverbB1
  • politeness
    nounB2
  • impolite
    adjectiveB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

For adjective/1, polite is the everyday word for speaking and acting in a socially acceptable way. Courteous is slightly more formal and often appears in customer service, business, or official notices. Respectful puts more weight on showing regard, especially to parents, teachers, older people, or rules. Well-mannered usually describes a person's general upbringing and habits, not just one moment. Considerate goes further than polite because it suggests active thought about another person's comfort, time, or feelings. A polite customer says, 'Could you help me, please?' A considerate customer may also notice the long line and wait quietly without complaint.

courteousrespectfulwell-manneredconsiderate

Common collocations

Nouns

  • polite answer
  • polite question
  • polite smile

Adverbs

  • very polite
  • extremely polite
  • perfectly polite

Phrases

  • be polite to someone
  • it would be polite to + verb

Prepositions

  • polite to

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

This word goes back to Latin polire, meaning 'to polish'. Through French, the idea changed from something made smooth and polished to a person whose behaviour seemed refined and well brought up. In English, that older image of being 'polished' developed into the modern meaning of having good manners.