courtesy.

1. Polite, considerate behavior, or a respectful gesture offered to another person.

2. Given or done as a gesture of goodwill or respect, often without charge.

3. With someone’s permission or help, supplied by them, or happening because of their involvement.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• common courtesy
• show courtesy
• have the courtesy to reply
• exchange courtesies
• as a courtesy

On the page

She answered the accusation with a courtesy that made his shouting seem childish.

As a courtesy, the clinic sent a reminder the previous evening.

They exchanged a few courtesies before turning to the difficult questions.

The garage supplied a courtesy car while hers was being repaired.

Before the negotiations, the envoy paid a courtesy visit to the mayor.

Usage notes

Noun: courtesy; plural courtesies. Usually uncountable for polite behavior; countable for a particular gesture, favor, or social formality. Also an adjective used before a noun: courtesy car, courtesy call. Do not pluralize the adjective or invent courtesy verb forms. Related courteous means polite. Courtesy of is a documented construction, not an extra canonical entry here. Register: neutral. Commonness: common in the main senses; nominal allowance sense less common (dictionary-informed qualitative editorial estimate; not a measured frequency).