Polite Meaning
/pəˈlaɪt/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjWell-mannered, civilized.
adjSmooth, polished, burnished.
Sentence Examples
You should try to be more polite.
It was just polite applause.
Please be polite to our guests.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Even after the rude comment, she remained very ____ and answered calmly.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It is considered ____ to hold the door open for the person walking behind you.
Word Origin & History
From Latin polītus (“polished”), past participle of poliō (“to polish, smooth”); see polish.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"He marries, bows at court, and grows polite."
— 1733, Alexander Pope, Epistle to Bathurst:
"I told him about everything I could think of; and what I couldn't think of he did. He asked about six questions during my yarn, but every question had a point to it. At the end he bowed and thanked me once more. As a thanker he was main-truck high; I never see anybody so polite."
— 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter IV, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
"rays of light […]falling on […]a polite surface"
— 1704, I[saac] N[ewton], “(please specify |book=1 to 3)”, in Opticks: Or, A Treatise of the Reflexions, Refractions, Inflexions and Colours of Light. […], London: […] Sam[uel] Smith, and Benj[amin] Walford, printers to the Royal Society, […], →OCLC:
"those exercises plied, which polite men's spirits"
— 1691, John Ray, The Wisdom of God Manifested in the Works of the Creation. […], London: […] Samuel Smith, […], →OCLC:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Even after the rude comment, she remained very ____ and answered calmly.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It is considered ____ to hold the door open for the person walking behind you.