gentility

[ jen-til-i-tee ]

noun

1. good breeding or refinement.

   Synonyms: propriety, decorum, grace, polish

2. affected or pretentious politeness or elegance.
3. the status of belonging to polite society.
4. members of polite society collectively.

gentility

/ dʒɛnˈtɪlɪtɪ /

noun

1. respectability and polite good breeding
2. affected politeness
3. noble birth or ancestry
4. people of noble birth

Other Words From

• ungen·tili·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of gentility¹

1300–50; Middle English < Old French gentilite < Latin gentīlitāt- (stem of gentīlitās ), equivalent to gentīl ( is ) ( gentle ) + -itāt- -ity

Word History and Origins

Origin of gentility¹

C14: from Old French gentilite, from Latin gentīlitās relationship of those belonging to the same tribe or family; see gens

Example Sentences

So what this shows about Richard Mack is that, in his eyes, one of the appeals of the constitutional sheriff movement is that they represent a sort of gentility that doesn't exist in policing anymore.

From Salon

The story is in no sense a petition for the return of the monarchy but contrasts Old World gentility with the heartlessness of the surveillance state, culture against the assassination of culture.

From Los Angeles Times

As Freeman notes, these insults “demanded an immediate challenge, for they struck at the core elements of manliness and gentility.”

From Seattle Times

As Machiavelli went on to suggest, the master liar must never show any weakness or gentility; he must always be, or at least appear to be, brutal, exuding righteous anger, control, power.

From Salon

Yet, thanks to Cloud, who brought gentleness and gentility to the role, the character could never be easily written off, or out, as a gangland plot device.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• aristocracy
• civility
• decorum
• elegance
• politeness
• propriety
• respectability