polite Meaning & Definition
What Does Polite Mean?
As an adjective, polite means of, relating to, or having the characteristics of advanced culture. It is also used to mean marked by refined cultural interests and pursuits especially in arts and belles lettres.
Quick Facts About Polite
| Part of speech | adjective |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /pə-ˈlīt/ |
| Syllables | 2 |
| Synonyms | gracious, refined and courteous |
| Antonyms | rude, impolite and uncivil |
| Comparative / superlative | politer, politest |
| Adverb | politely |
| First known use | 1500 |
Polite Definition (Adjective)
- of, relating to, or having the characteristics of advanced culture
- marked by refined cultural interests and pursuits especially in arts and belles lettres
- showing or characterized by correct social usage
- marked by an appearance of consideration, tact, deference, or courtesy
- marked by a lack of roughness or crudities
polite literature
Synonyms of Polite
Antonyms of Polite
Polite in a Sentence
It's not polite to use a mobile phone in a restaurant.
Try and be polite to Auntie Maria for once.
polite literature
it's only polite to hold the door for the person behind you
such matters are never mentioned in polite conversation
Word Forms & Grammar
po·lit·er
po·lit·est
po·lite·ly adverb
po·lite·ness noun
polite
politely
politeness
politenesses
politer
politest
polite (comparative politer or more polite, superlative politest or most polite)
polite (third-person singular simple present polites, present participle politing, simple past and past participle polited)
Words That Rhyme With Polite
Origin of Polite
Origin 1: Middle English (Scots) polit, Latin politus, from past participle of polire
Origin 2: From Latin polītus (“polished”), past participle of poliō (“to polish, smooth”); see polish.
First Known Use
circa 1500
How to Pronounce Polite
The standard pronunciation of polite is /pə-ˈlīt/, spoken in 2 syllables, with the main stress on the second syllable (līt).
Questions People Ask About Polite
What part of speech is polite?
Polite is an adjective.
What is another word for polite?
Words with a similar meaning to polite include gracious, refined and courteous. See the full list of polite synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of polite?
Antonyms of polite include rude, impolite, uncivil and discourteous.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of polite?
The comparative form is politer and the superlative form is politest.