civil, polite, courteous, gallant, chivalrous mean observant of the forms required by good breeding. civil often suggests little more than the avoidance of overt rudeness.
What is meant and perceived as polite in a given context, however, will depend on judgments of appropriateness and markedness.
Definition of polite adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
You can refer to people who consider themselves to be socially superior and to set standards of behaviour for everyone else as polite society or polite company.
There are seven meanings listed in OED's entry for the word polite, two of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
polite, adj. & n. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English Dictionary
of a refined or elegant kind: polite learning. po lite′ness, n. 1. well-bred, gracious. See civil. 2. urbane, polished, poised, courtly, cultivated. 1. 2. rude. In Lists: Top 2000 English words, Desirable personal qualities, PET Vocabulary List - P, more... Synonyms: courteous, considerate, well-mannered, respectful, mannerly, more...
Polite definition: Marked by or showing consideration for others and observance of accepted social usage.
POLITE definition: showing good manners toward others, as in behavior, speech, etc.; courteous; civil. See examples of polite used in a sentence.
Polite and mannerly imply consideration for others and the adherence to conventional social standards of good behavior: "She was so polite and unwilling to offend that she wouldn't always make her feelings and intentions clear" (Jane Mayer and Jill Abramson).