Definition of 'courtesy'
Word forms: plural courtesies
2. singular noun
[formal]
By extending the courtesy of a phone call to my clients, I was building a personal
relationship with them. [+ of]
3. countable noun [usually plural]
[formal]
4. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
5. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
A courtesy call or a courtesy visit is a formal visit that you pay someone as a way of showing them politeness or respect.
6. uncountable noun [NOUN noun, by N]
A courtesy title is a title that someone is allowed to use, although it has no legal or official status.
7.
See (by) courtesy of
8.
See (by) courtesy of
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
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Word Frequency
courtesy in British English
nounWord forms: plural -sies
1.
politeness; good manners
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
C13 curteisie, from Old French, from corteis courteousWord Frequency
courtesy in American English
nounWord forms: plural ˈcourtesies
1.
courteous behavior; gracious politeness
2.
a polite, helpful, or considerate act or remark
3.
a former legislator addressed as “Senator” by courtesy
adjective
5.
of or having to do with courtesy or a courtesy
6.
provided free as a courtesy; complimentary
Idioms:
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency
courtesy in American English
(ˈkɜːrtəsi, or, for 5 ˈkɜːrtsi) (noun plural -sies)
noun
1.
excellence of manners or social conduct; polite behavior
2.
a courteous, respectful, or considerate act or expression
4.
favor, help, or generosity
The costumes for the play were by courtesy of the local department store
5.
a curtsy
adjective
SYNONYMS 1. courteousness, civility, urbanity.7.
offered or provided free by courtesy of the management
While waiting to board the airplane, we were provided with courtesy coffee
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Examples of 'courtesy' in a sentence
courtesy
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In other languages
courtesy
British English: courtesy
NOUN /ˈkɜːtəsɪ/
Courtesy is politeness, respect, and consideration for others.
...a gentleman who behaves with the utmost courtesy towards everyone he meets.
- American English: courtesy /ˈkɜrtɪsi/
- Brazilian Portuguese: cortesia
- Chinese: 彬彬有礼
- European Spanish: cortesía
- French: courtoisie
- German: Höflichkeit
- Italian: cortesia
- Japanese: 礼儀
- Korean: 예의
- European Portuguese: cortesia
- Latin American Spanish: cortesía
- Thai: ความสุภาพ, ความน่านับถือ, ความเอื้อเฟื้อ
British English: courtesy
ADJECTIVE /ˈkɜːtəsɪ/
Courtesy is used to describe services that are provided free of charge by an organization to its customers, or to the general public.
A courtesy shuttle bus operates between the hotel and the town.
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Definition of courtesy from the Collins English Dictionary
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