Meanings
plural politesses
- countableuncountableCivility, politeness, courtesy or gallantry; genteel politeness or an instance of this.
The reference in his letter to ‘having a drink’ is of course just an empty politesse.
1978, Iris Murdoch, The Sea, The Sea, Vintage, published 1999, pages 56–572 more examples
So if you meet me, have some courtesy / Have some sympathy, and some taste / Use all your well-learned politesse / Or I'll lay your soul to waste
1968, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, “Sympathy for the Devil”, in Beggars Banquet, performed by Rolling StonesThe soft politesse concealed a sharp observer, a gleaner of information, cool under pressure and used to having to think several steps ahead […]
2011, Thomas Penn, Winter King, Penguin, published 2012, page 7
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latinpolire
- Italianpolitezza
- Frenchpolitesse
- Englishpolitesse
From French politesse, from Italian politezza, from polito, past participle of pulire (“to clean”), from Latin polire, present active infinite form of poliō (“to polish”).
More words from French, Italian, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian учтивост
- учтивост (učtivost)civility, courtesy
French savoir-vivre
- savoir-vivrecivility, courtesy
Swedish artighet
- artighetcivility, courtesy
Cite this entry
politesse. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/politesse
“politesse.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/politesse. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “politesse,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/politesse.
Source: politesse on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.