English Explanatory Dictionary

polite

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Well-mannered, civilized.
  2. Smooth, polished, burnished.
verb
  1. To polish; to refine; to render polite.
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

/pəˈlaɪt/ En-polite.ogg

Word forms

polite politer more polite politest most polite polites politing polited

Etymology

From Latin polītus (“polished”), past participle of poliō (“to polish, smooth”); see polish.

Synonyms

civil civilized complaisant correct courteous cultivated fair-mannered genteel mannerly polished polite politic reasonable refined urbane well-behaved well-mannered well-bred

Antonyms

impolite rude bad-mannered ill-mannered

Related words

polish friendly kindly

Derived words

nonpolite overpolite over-polite polite fiction politeful polite literature politely politeness polite notice polite society politesome superpolite unpolite
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