Word
gentility
Phoneticsgen·til·i·ty, stress on the second syllable
US/dʒɛnˈtɪɫɪti/
UK/dʒɛntˈɪlɪti/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the quality of being polite, well-behaved, and coming from a high social class. It describes a way of living that is very traditional and elegant.
n. the quality of belonging to the upper social classes, typically manifested through refined manners and elegant lifestyle. Often carries a connotation of traditional or old-fashioned social standards.
Examples
“The old hotel still has an air of quiet gentility.”
“Despite their lack of money, the family maintained a sense of gentility through their formal dinners and polite conversation.”
“The neighborhood's fading gentility was evident in the crumbling Victorian mansions that had once been the center of the city's high society.”
Examples
simple
“The old hotel still has an air of quiet gentility.”
contextual
“Despite their lack of money, the family maintained a sense of gentility through their formal dinners and polite conversation.”
complex
“The neighborhood's fading gentility was evident in the crumbling Victorian mansions that had once been the center of the city's high society.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “gentility” in context.
Verb
01. affect gentility
“He affected a certain gentility that he hoped would mask his humble origins.”
verb + noun
02. gentility requires
“Old-fashioned gentility requires that one never speaks of money at the dinner table.”
noun + verb
03. maintain gentility
“Despite their financial ruin, they struggled to maintain an appearance of gentility.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. faded gentility
“The seaside resort had an air of faded gentility, with its peeling paint and grand old hotels.”
adj + noun
05. genteel gentility
“The neighborhood was known for its quiet, genteel gentility and manicured lawns.”
adj + noun
06. shabby gentility
“The family lived in a state of shabby gentility, clinging to their status despite their lack of money.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. air of gentility
“The drawing room possessed an unmistakable air of gentility and refinement.”
noun + prep + noun
08. veneer of gentility
“Beneath his thin veneer of gentility lay a ruthless and aggressive businessman.”
noun + prep + noun
09. a relic of victorian gentility
“The etiquette manual is seen today as a quaint relic of Victorian gentility.”
10. climb the ladder of gentility
“The merchant's primary ambition was to climb the ladder of gentility through marriage.”
11. keep up appearances of gentility
“They spent their last savings to keep up appearances of gentility in front of the neighbors.”
Usage
Frequently appears in the phrase 'an air of gentility' or 'faded gentility'.
Real-World Examples
“Gentility, after all, was the product of an elite culture, a way of distinguishing ladies and gentlemen from common people, and thus hardly suited to a republican society.” “Following the French Revolution, the republican zeal for equality overshadowed the rules of gentility that celebrated hierarchy and distinctions of class and gender.” “The millions of women who grew up reading Nancy Drew now treasure her in much the way they would an antique tea set or the look of white gloves with a suit: she is an artifact of gentility, of primness, of an era when villains posed as members of the household staff to steal a family heirloom and girl detectives made sure their shoes and pocketbooks matched.” “ON this island of faded gentility, Wendy Schmidt — tall, blond and whippet thin — has long been a figure of some fascination.” Etymology
From Old French gentilité, a term denoting nobility of birth or rank; the word entered English in the fourteenth century, bringing with it the sense of refined condition and respectable social standing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- 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.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL 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: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Rare
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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