politer; politest
1
a
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of advanced culture
b
: marked by refined cultural interests and pursuits especially in arts and belles lettres
2
a
: showing or characterized by correct social usage
b
: marked by an appearance of consideration, tact, deference, or courtesy
c
: marked by a lack of roughness or crudities
polite literature
politely
adverb
politeness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of polite in a Sentence
It was polite of him to hold the door for them.
Please be polite to the guests.
It isn't polite to interrupt people when they're talking.
She received some polite applause despite the mistakes in her performance.
Recent Examples on the Web
Craft a comprehensive script of polite yet firm responses for declining holiday invitations or managing family expectations without guilt.
—
Tor Constantino, Mba, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Does Miss Manners have a suggestion for a polite way of indicating that, since they couldn’t be bothered to acknowledge the first gift, subsequent gifts should not be solicited?
—Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
In social situations, redirect the conversation to some other topic (or come up with a polite excuse to exit).
—Angela Haupt, TIME, 31 Oct. 2024
Wiley, wearing similarly busy patchwork jeans, continues his polite but half-hearted tour.
—Rachel Corbett, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for polite 
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Tor Constantino, Mba, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Does Miss Manners have a suggestion for a polite way of indicating that, since they couldn’t be bothered to acknowledge the first gift, subsequent gifts should not be solicited?
—Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
In social situations, redirect the conversation to some other topic (or come up with a polite excuse to exit).
—Angela Haupt, TIME, 31 Oct. 2024
Wiley, wearing similarly busy patchwork jeans, continues his polite but half-hearted tour.
—Rachel Corbett, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for polite
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Dictionary Entries Near polite
Cite this Entry
“Polite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polite. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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