What does courtesy mean?
Courtesy is polite, considerate behaviour that shows respect and goodwill toward others. It encompasses everyday acts of good manners—holding a door, saying thank you, answering a letter—as well as more formal gestures such as a courtesy call or a courtesy title. The word also names an individual polite act ('she did it out of courtesy') and appears in the phrase 'by courtesy of', which acknowledges permission or provision of something, as when a photograph is reproduced 'by courtesy of the museum'. Courtesy carries a warm but slightly formal connotation: unlike friendliness, which suggests personal affection, courtesy can exist between strangers and even adversaries. It derives ultimately from the vocabulary of medieval courts, so to be courteous was once literally to behave in a manner befitting a noble court. Its adjective form is 'courteous', and its opposite is 'rudeness' or 'discourtesy'.
nounPolite, considerate behaviour that shows respect for others; a polite gesture or act done out of good manners rather than obligation.
- Polite and considerate behaviour showing respect for others.
- A specific polite act or gesture, such as a favour or expression of regard.
- (by courtesy of) Permission or acknowledgement granted by someone for something to be used or provided.
- A curtsy; a respectful bow (archaic/rare).
"She had the courtesy to reply to every letter she received."
"He held the door open as a matter of simple courtesy."
"The photographs appear here by courtesy of the National Gallery."
The plural typically refers to multiple individual polite acts, gestures, or expressions of regard rather than politeness in general.
"The ambassadors exchanged formal courtesies before beginning negotiations."
Courtesy and 'court' share the same root — being courteous originally meant behaving as one should at a royal court.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of courtesy
Courtesy entered English in Middle English via Old French 'cortesie', derived from 'corte' or 'cort', meaning a royal court. The underlying root is Late Latin 'cohors' (genitive 'cohortis'), meaning an enclosure or company of attendants, which also gives English the words 'court', 'cohort', and 'curtilage'. Originally, courtesy described conduct appropriate to a noble court—refined, chivalrous manners—and its meaning gradually broadened to polite behaviour in general. It is closely related to 'courteous' and to the older sense of 'chivalrous' courtliness.
Related word forms
How courtesy is actually used
Courtesy is a positive, somewhat formal word often used in phrases like 'common courtesy' to signal behaviour expected of everyone. The phrase 'a courtesy call' denotes a formal visit made out of politeness, and 'courtesy copy' is the origin of the 'CC' field in email.
Easily confused with courtesy
A curtsy is a respectful bow made by bending the knees, traditionally performed by women, whereas courtesy is politeness in general.