Word
courteous
Phoneticscour·te·ous, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɝtiəs/
UK/kˈɜːtiəs/
Formal
Definition
adj. polite and respectful toward other people. You use this to describe someone who has very good manners.
adj. exhibiting politeness and respect in manner or behaviour. Often used to describe professional conduct or formal social interactions.
Examples
“The hotel staff were very courteous and helpful.”
“Even though the two politicians disagreed on every policy, they remained courteous to each other during the debate.”
“A courteous reply to a hostile email can often de-escalate a professional conflict more effectively than a defensive or equally aggressive response.”
Examples
simple
“The hotel staff were very courteous and helpful.”
contextual
“Even though the two politicians disagreed on every policy, they remained courteous to each other during the debate.”
complex
“A courteous reply to a hostile email can often de-escalate a professional conflict more effectively than a defensive or equally aggressive response.”
Usage
Typically used as a predicative adjective after 'be' or 'remain', or as an attributive adjective before a noun.
Real-World Examples
“Please follow our comment guidelines , stay on topic, and be civil, courteous, and respectful of others’ beliefs.” “The result was, to some extent, a gratifyingly low-drama exchange in which each man was lavishly courteous to the other.” Etymology
From Middle English curteis, from Old French curteis (French courtois), from cort (“court”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/courteous