politesse

politesse — noun

1. careful good manners that follow social rules and can seem slightly stiff

1.nounC2
Definition

careful good manners that follow social rules and can seem slightly stiff

Example

Guests exchanged politesse at the embassy dinner before the talks began.

exchange politesse in formal settings

His old-fashioned politesse made the hotel staff call him sir again.

Common collocations
  • show politesse
  • exchange politesse
  • old-world politesse
  • cold politesse
  • diplomatic politesse
Synonyms
  • politeness

    is the normal everyday word and is broader, with less formal or theatrical force

  • courtesy

    often stresses considerate acts toward another person more than social style

  • civility

    is common in public or social discussion about basic respect between people

  • decorum

    focuses on behaving in the proper way for a particular occasion

Antonyms
  • rudeness

    directly describes bad manners or disrespectful behaviour

  • discourtesy

    is a more formal opposite that stresses lack of consideration

Grammar Patterns

show politesse

with politesse

Usage Note

Usually uncountable and mostly found in formal, literary, or historical writing. Often suggests socially correct manners that are polished on the surface rather than warm or natural.

Common Mistakes

He showed many politesses at dinner.
He showed great politesse at dinner.
politesse is usually uncountable.
Her politesse made everyone feel close to her.
Her warmth made everyone feel close to her.
politesse is correct social manner, not deep friendliness.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For this sense, politesse is more literary and more socially staged than politeness. Politeness is the everyday general word for saying please, waiting your turn, and speaking kindly. Courtesy is also common, but it often focuses on considerate acts toward another person, such as opening a door or writing a thank-you note. Civility is broader and often appears in public or political talk about treating others with basic respect. Decorum stresses behaving in the proper way for a setting. Politesse suggests polished, correct manners that may even feel distant or performative. You can thank a neighbour for politeness, but a diplomat or aristocratic host may show politesse.

politeness ↗courtesy ↗civility ↗decorum

Common collocations

Nouns

  • air of politesse
  • show of politesse
  • veneer of politesse

Phrases

  • show politesse
  • exchange politesse
  • treat someone with politesse

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinItalianFrenchEnglish

Politesse came into English from French politesse, a noun related to poli, meaning 'polished' or 'refined'. The French word goes back through Italian pulitezza to Latin polire, 'to polish'. The history reflects an old idea that socially correct behaviour is smooth and polished.