# gentleman

/ˈdʒɛnəɫmən/ (US) · /dʒˈɛntəlmən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gentleman
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. polite/kind man

noun · CEFR B1

a man who is polite, honest, and treats other people with respect.

For teachers: a man of refined manners and civilised conduct who adheres to high standards of propriety.

- He was a true gentleman and offered his seat to the elderly woman.
- The witness described the suspect as a soft-spoken gentleman who appeared entirely out of place in such a chaotic environment.

### 2. polite term for any man

noun · CEFR A2 · Formal

a polite way to talk about or address any man.

For teachers: a polite or formal designation for a male person, frequently used in the plural as a form of address.

- Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our guest speaker for the evening.
- The usher requested that the gentlemen remove their hats before entering the main sanctuary for the ceremony.

### 3. social rank

noun · CEFR C1 · Archaic · British English

a man from a high social class who does not need to work for money.

For teachers: a man of high social status, specifically one of 'gentle' birth who owns property and does not engage in manual labour.

- In the old novel, the main character was a gentleman who spent his days reading and hunting.
- Under traditional English law, a gentleman was defined as an armigerous man ranking below a knight but above a yeoman.

### 4. amateur

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Formal

someone who does an activity for fun rather than as a job, often because they are wealthy.

For teachers: an amateur participant in a sport or profession, historically distinguished from professionals who received payment.

- He was a gentleman scientist who funded his own experiments in his basement.
- The distinction between 'gentlemen' and 'players' in cricket historically separated wealthy amateurs from those who played for a wage.

## Examples

- He is a true gentleman and always holds the door open.
- The host asked the gentleman in the front row to stand up and introduce himself to the group.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.